Dmitry Bivol continued his build-up to his highly-anticipated conflict with Artur Beterbiev in type with a medical sixth-round victory over Malik Zinad on Saturday.
Bivol, a WBA and IBO champion, was because of face WBC, WBO and IBF joint champion Beterbiev for the undisputed gentle heavyweight title earlier than the latter needed to pull out because of harm.
“We’re skilled boxers, at any second we’ve got to alter techniques, and I had sufficient time to alter my coaching to a different fighter to Beterbiev,” Bivol mentioned.
Turki Al-Sheikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s Common Authority for Leisure, took to the ring shortly after Bivol’s win to verify the pair will meet on a rescheduled date of October 12, which is able to kick off Riyadh’s season in Saudi Arabia later this yr.
Bivol prolonged his good report to 23-0, his first stoppage win since 2018, after 9 consecutive unanimous resolution victories.
“I believe my power was right here each time and I had no doubts,” Bivol added.
The hole in school was evident from the beginning as Bivol despatched the courageous and aggressive Zinad to the canvas with a devastating left hook within the first spherical.
Zinad, who dropped to 22-1 after the primary lack of his skilled profession, continued to struggle with confidence, engaged on the entrance leg in a sq. stance on Bivol, which is so tough to decipher.
For each show of Zinad’s blistering hand velocity, there was an equally scintillating encounter from the dominant Biwal, whose unfailing accuracy bloodied his opponent’s nostril.
For all of Zinado’s trade, Bivol hardly ever seemed involved as he seemed to earn some invaluable rounds with Beterbiev additional down the road.
Lastly, his superior timing and energy got here by as he unblocked Zinad with a brutal left hook to reel his man earlier than unleashing a wave of punishment that pressured referee Howard Foster to step in and cease the struggle.