Eddie Hearn has expressed concern about Artur Beterbiev’s condition ahead of his highly anticipated fight against Dmitry Bivol this Saturday, October 12, in Riyadh. Hearn described the unified light heavyweight champion, who boasts an impressive record of 20 wins, all by knockout, as appearing “depleted” in recent days, suggesting that Beterbiev may be struggling to make weight.

Reflecting on Beterbiev’s previous bout against Oleksandr Gvozdyk, Hearn noted how close that fight was, pointing out that Gvozdyk had considerable success early on. He recalled, “If you look back at the Gvozdyk fight, it was really close, but he nearly survived and then got taken out.” Gvozdyk was able to land hard shots throughout the first eight rounds, which impressed the judges and forced Beterbiev to be more cautious in his approach. Hearn believes that while Gvozdyk was able to create problems for Beterbiev, Bivol may not pose the same threat due to his lower power.

Hearn emphasized that Bivol lacks the punching power of Gvozdyk and may struggle to maintain a significant lead in the early rounds. “Beterbiev doesn’t do too much early,” he explained, citing Beterbiev’s performance against Callum Smith, where he took his time while still winning rounds. “It’s pressure, pressure, pressure, but I think Dmitry has the punch volume to win those early rounds. You’ve got to rack them up, and then you’ve got to hold on for dear life.”

While Bivol might secure some of the initial rounds, Hearn cautioned that the relentless pressure from Beterbiev could take its toll. He warned that Bivol would have to endure significant punishment and manage his stamina carefully; otherwise, he risks tiring out under Beterbiev’s constant assault over the course of the fight.