The much-anticipated showdown between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol is just a matter of days away.

This Saturday, Saudi Arabia will play host to the two best light-heavyweights on the planet as they come together and battle it out for undisputed honours.

Both men are unbeaten and Beterbiev holds a unique record in that he is the only world champion with a 100% knockout ratio having stopped all 20 of his opponents so far. That includes the likes of Callum Smith, Callum Johnson and Arthur Yarde as well as Joe Smith Jr and plenty of others.

The fight was initially scheduled for earlier in the year but an injury to Beterbiev delayed it until now, which may be a small advantage for Bivol who has been free to fight and train in the interim.

His most high-profile win was against Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in 2022 whom he beat on points, and has also been victorious over the likes of Craig Richards and Gilberto Ramirez.

Speaking on The Fight, former trainer turned pundit Teddy Atlas talked up Bivol’s chances due to his mental strength.

“I don’t think Bivol is getting broken. Now he might get physically overrun with body shots if Beterbiev can close the gap, and he’s going to have to take something to do that. And there are a couple of problems with that. His skin, he’s almost 40. He’s got the oldest skin and it has been cut. It has been stitched. There is scar tissue. He doesn’t care about blood but if he does get cut and cut bad enough does that possibly impact the stoppage? That could come into play but the most important thing for me is that Bivol is going to be able to hadn’t with what’s thrown at him mentally.”

Atlas then also spoke of the pressure Beterbiev will apply but still sided with Bivol.

“Beterbiev will come to you with that jab, he will go to the body, he will continue to apply pressure and if he can get to that body he will be where he wants to be to win. That moment will come when he knocks at the door. But Bivol will answer that door. He will not allow that door to be broken down like it has by 20 other people. At the end of the day the best man will win, not the best man technically, but the man that can put up the with the mental part. I’m taking Bivol to win a decision.”

Whoever comes out on top has options, including a showdown with the current undisputed super-middleweight champion ‘Canelo’ or interim light-heavyweight title holder David Benavidez.