What does courage look like? Every boxer who has stepped in the ring knows it, sees it, and feels it. True courage isn’t just fighting, it’s walking under the bright lights, feeling the weight of a thousand eyes, and knowing no one can throw the punch for you—that it’s all on you. Undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev knows courage quite well.

The 39-year-old Russian squared off last month in Saudi Arabia for the biggest fight of his career, taking on fellow countryman and former WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol. After twelve grueling rounds, Beterbiev had his hand raised, winning the bout by majority decision. But what was it like leading up to that moment?

The tension, the atmosphere in the locker room, the nerves? Beterbiev took to social media today to share what it felt like before he stepped into the ring, giving fans a rare glimpse into the mindset of a champion preparing for battle. “I know you’re interested to see what happens before the fight,” Beterbiev wrote on Instagram while sharing a clip from his locker room. 

“I think it’s time to show it now. The last minutes before the fight, it’s a warm-up.” The air was thick with tension, a heavy silence that seemed to fill every corner of the room. Beterbiev sat with a blank expression while getting his hands wrapped with methodical precision. 

He moved with purpose, gliding through footwork drills, and throwing a few last-minute combinations. His focus was unshakable, each motion deliberate, each step calculated. Suddenly, the time came to slip on the gloves, but even after that, there was no pause. 

He continued to work, never allowing himself a moment of stillness, always in motion, always ready. “Usually, I don’t really notice what’s going on around me, because I’m trying to get in the mood,” he concluded. Regardless of how Beterbiev prepared himself for the bout, at the end of the day—it turned out to be controversial. 

However, the Top Rank president believes Beterbiev deserved that win. 

Metrics show Artur Beterbiev won the fight fair and square

Artur Beterbiev’s victory over Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed light heavyweight status last month was steeped in controversy after fans and experts alike questioned the scoring. However, Beterbiev’s promoter Todd duBoef told Sky Sports, “Beterbiev was by far the more aggressive on the metrics (using the technology they have).”

Todd duBoef highlighted that Beterbiev outperformed Bivol in “five of the metrics, in seven of the rounds,” which include punches landed and aggression. Despite that, duBoef acknowledged the frustration fans experienced with the results, stating, “It is subjective, and I think in any way you can make it better and give the fans more confidence in what they know.” 

That said, Artur Beterbiev gave a rare peek into what he did before his fight against Dmitry Bivol. However, by the looks of things, the duo may end up fighting again sooner rather than later. If and when the fight happens who do you think will win?