Oscar De La Hoya says it will be physically tough on Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev if they meet for a trilogy match between them next. He says he’d like to see it, but he feels it’ll be tough on both light heavyweights.
De La Hoya favors undisputed champion Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) to defeat the 40-year-old Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) because Bivol has the youth, speed, and movement advantage.
Oscar says he was concerned at seeing Beterbiev wearing two knee braces inside the ring, moving so slowly as if he were in quicksand, and lacking the ability to cut off the ring. Still, Beterbiev was in the fight and looked to be on the path for a knockout when he was chasing Bivol around the ring from rounds three through seven.
Benavidez: A Tough Matchup
De La Hoya says he would like to see Bivol fight his WBC mandatory David Benavidez, because that would show bravery on his part. However, he feels that Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) would beat Bivol because of his high punch output, ring IQ and ability to cut off the ring.
All the movement that Bivol used to defeat Beterbiev wouldn’t work against Benavidez. He’d chase him down and chop him apart. Bivol’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, doesn’t appear interested in Benavidez for him. Unless he changes his mind, we’ll likely see Bivol fighting Beterbiev again or Callum Smith.
“I think Benavidez is pretty interesting. I think that’s a hell of a fight. If he’s willing to be brave, if he’s willing to fight Benavidez, that would solidify Bivol’s Hall of Fame career, for sure. He proved to the world that he’s the best at 175. That’s a hell of a fight. That would be a hell of a route to take. I would go with Benavidez,” said Oscar De La Hoya to Fight Hub TV when asked who wins between Dmitry Bivol and David Benavidez.
“He’s smarter up there, he knows how to think and he knows how to adjust. I would favor Benavidez [over Bivol]. He throws more punches, he’s more active and has better footwork than Beterbiev,”
Benavidez would be a bad style match-up for the 34-year-old Bivol because he doesn’t like getting hit, and he doesn’t stay in the pocket long enough to do damage. We saw what a tired Beterbiev did to Bivol in the 12th round of their rematch last Saturday night on February 22nd when he suddenly turned up the gas full throttle for the first time in the fight. He had Bivol bloody and battered in just that round. He was falling apart from the pressure from Beterbiev. If Bivol fought Benavidez, every round would be just like that.
Canelo’s Rematch Chances
“There’s no way he beats Bivol. There’s just no way. Styles make fights, and as much as I’d want to see a Mexican win inside that ring, a National hero, there’s no way he beats Bivol,” said De La Hoya about Canelo Alvarez not having the ability to avenge his loss to Dmitry Bivol.
Bivol dominated Canelo in their fight on May 7th, 2022. Bivol’s size, combination punching, and stamina were too much for Canelo. It would be worse now for the Mexican star because he gasses out even quicker in his fights and wouldn’t have the fuel tank to compete for more than two or three rounds.
“I had Bivol since the beginning. I thought Bivol knew how to adjust and use his boxing skills and his footwork, side to side movement,” said De La Hoya about Bivol’s rematch with Artur Beterbiev on February 22nd. “His combinations were ruthless. I just feel he did the better work.
Trilogy: Physical Toll
“His ring generalship was better. He knew how to cut off the ring better and he knew how to box better. He deserved to win [against Beterbiev]. Back to back to back, that’s very tough on the body,” said De La Hoya when asked if Bivol should take the trilogy match with Artur next. “That’s very tough on the mind.
“I don’t care what era you’re fighting in, whether it’s the 1950s, 1960s, where they fought 30 times a year or you’re fighting today. Three fights back to back to back is tough on the body. It’s up to them [Bivol and Beterbiev]. They make up their decisions. Yeah, I would love to see a third one. Why not?
“I was very concerned with Beterbiev. I was concerned from the very start because he was wearing two knee braces. So, looking at his footwork, he was very stiff. He was very mechanical. He was very slow, kind of like quicksand. Kind of like Canelo inside that ring, very slow, very heavy-footed. So, that was a concern of mine.
“Bivol started moving side to side, and Beterbiev couldn’t close the distance. He was following him too slow. That’s why Bivol had the upper hand,” said De La Hoya.
Last Updated on 03/01/2025