Artur Beterbiev shuts down Oleksandr Usyk challenge in the professional circuit: “He’s too strong for me…”
Undisputed light heavyweight champ Artur Beterbiev shuts down chances of Oleksandr Usyk test after DAZN PPV title showdown.
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Artur Beterbiev doesn't want Oleksandr Usyk stiff test after DAZN PPV domination (Source: X)
Artur Beterbiev, the undisputed light heavyweight champion, touting 21-0 record and 20 knockouts to his name, flat-out discarded one challenge. That challenge walks the walk by the name of heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian Usyk recently won his heavyweight title rematch for DAZN PPV (pay-per-view).
Oleksandr Usyk swiped out Tyson Fury and won their first go in May via split decision. In a rematch, Usyk beat the Brit again with a lopsided 116-112 on all three judges’ scorecards on DAZN PPV. The 4-belt era’s new heavyweight king also had a similar stint and success at cruiserweight limits. So, Artur Beterbiev clarifies he won’t be up for a bid at his WBA, WBO, and WBC titles at heavyweight any soon.
There won’t be a fight with Usyk. He’s too strong for me…If he moves back down to my division, then I’ll fight him. But not in heavyweight. Cruiserweight? No. Too strong, too good.
Artur Beterbiev to Fight Hub TV
At his own division, where “Cat” hydrates low – that may be a passive yes. The pair have a history, having met three times in the amateur ranks. Oleksandr Usyk came out on top on both occasions. Beterbiev seems to have those memories still fresh in his mind. He himself recently slugged it out with Dmitry Bivol to decide the #1 guy in the light heavyweight division.
‼️“He’s to strong for me! He’s a heavyweight, he’s to strong!”- Artur Beterbiev
— Fight Hub TV (@FightHubTV) January 13, 2025
Artur Beterbiev on the possibility of facing Oleksandr Usyk.
WATCH: https://t.co/pAeUkB9qwv pic.twitter.com/j7zBPzzrLO
Despite his own consolidated blimps and tales of strength, he agrees Usyk is a stronger challenge at heavyweight. It is not something on his to-do list right now. Usyk is relatively on the short side of heavyweight frames but can punch strong and sure. The ‘Wolf’ of the light heavyweights also gave his thoughts on Fury.
Artur Beterbiev weighs in on Tyson Fury
Beterbiev’s honesty is a rare thing in the boxing world these days. Most fighters would have given some canned line about scaling the best option. The four-belt fractured era is a hot mess sometimes, and commissions do fill the pockets – so why not?
But Artur Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) humbly sticks to his lane. The consolidated undisputed champ defeated former WBA champion Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) on digits of 115-113, 16-112, 114-114. Given his strength, any other boxer would jump the line to test against the best. Oleksandr Usyk even; but real knows real. What of Tyson Fury though? Classily enough, Beterbiev showered praise on the British heavyweight.
Fury fought well. I feel a bit sorry that there are no big names in heavyweight right now. I mean, real legends like Muhammad Ali or Mike Tyson. Right now, Usyk and Fury are the best in this weight class.
Artur Beterbiev further said
Instead, he flared up some sort of sympathy for “Gypsy King”. Like many others, Artur Beterbiev also agreed that Fury made needed changes and stood a goliath with his side-to-side stance battle. The DAZN PPV rematch saw a more-bodied but quite fast Fury in the ring.
Fury even retired for the nth time to drive up the price tag for a Brit battle against Anthony Joshua. But Beterbiev knows what Fury has been through the years. Despite the flip-flop now, he respects Fury – and the Ukrainian Usyk. Given the snoozefest of HW talents in boxing right now (barring a few), Beterbiev tips his hat to such greats.
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