- Artur Beterbiev (20-0) and Dmitry Bivol (23-0) are both undefeated fighters
- They will clash on Saturday to unify world boxing’s light-heavyweight division
- Beterbiev exchanged heated pre-fight words with Bivol’s promoter Eddie Hearn
Artur Beterbiev will face Dmitry Bivol on Saturday for the title of undisputed light-heavyweight world champion but the Russian-Canadian comically also offered to fight promoter Eddie Hearn during a tense final press conference this week.
Host Dev Sahni sparked the awkward exchange between Beterbiev, 39, and Hearn, 45, in Riyadh when he said to the fighter: ‘He called you arrogant, what are your thoughts on that?’
Beterbiev responded by telling Sahni: ‘You are trying to make me have a fight with Eddie? I can’t do something you know.’
Addressing Beterbiev directly, Hearn hit back: ‘Don’t you worry about me. You have to get through him first (pointing at Bivol).
‘When he is finished with you, it will be easier for me.’
Artur Beterbiev (second left) comically offered to fight promoter Eddie Hearn (right) this week
Hearn is the promotor of Dmitrii Bivol (left), who is set to fight Beterbiev in Riyadh on Saturday
Dev Sahni (second left) stirred up a row between Beterbiev and Hearn at a press conference
Then came Beterbiev’s comical offer to Hearn – whose Matchroom Boxing company represent Bivol.
Beterbiev – whose current promoter is Frank Warren – said to Hearn: ‘Maybe with you today? You are not in good condition right now.’
Hearn replied: ‘Not for you, that’s not a tough challenge. Me? I’m in terrible condition.’
Champion Beterbiev then aimed another jibe at Hearn, telling him: ‘You talk a lot, okay we will see this Saturday.’
But Hearn had the final word as he told Beterbiev: ‘That is my job, you should try it.’
Beterbiev is the undefeated light-heavyweight champion of the world, holding the WBC, IBF, and WBO titles with a perfect record of 20-0, all by knockout.
Beterbiev said to Hearn: ‘Maybe with you today? You are not in good condition right now’
Matchroom Boxing promoter Hearn was seen grinning cheekily throughout the exchange
Hearn had the final word in his tense but amusing exchange with Russian-Canadian Beterbiev
Meanwhile, WBA champion Bivol also boasts an undefeated record – 23-0, which includes 12 wins via KO, three of which were in world-title fights.
The winner on Saturday will become the first undisputed light heavyweight champion of the four-belt era.
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