Artur Beterbiev enters the Kingdom Arena here in Saudi Arabia tonight as the hungriest fighter in the world.
The Russian, who bridles at being nicknamed the Monster, has not eaten solid food since his supper on Wednesday evening.
But he might also be acclaimed as Artur the Great Destroyer, with a perfect record of 20 knockouts in his 20 professional fights.
Now Beterbiev expects his three-day regime of liquids-only to help him defeat compatriot Dmitry Bivol and realise his ‘ultimate ambition’ of becoming undisputed world light-heavyweight champion.
To that end, his 72-hour pre-fight fasting darkens his mood into that of the most intimidating boxer on the planet. ‘I am not a monster,’ he says on the eve of the most important battle of his life. ‘This I think you can see. My name is just Artur. I am a kind person, but I cannot be kind in the ring.
Artur Beterbiev embarked on a three-day water fast ahead of his showdown with Dmitry Bivol
Light heavyweight star credited the technique with allowing him to be ‘mean’ inside the ring
The 39-year-old added that his dedication to clean living has allowed him to stay sharp
‘Not eating for three days makes me mean. Really mean in the boxing, which for now is my real life. When it is over, I return to my family life.’
At 39, retirement into domestic bliss with his wife Medina and their four children would be fast approaching for almost all practitioners of the hardest game. But not for Beterbiev.
Ask how old he feels and he says: ‘Twenty-nine. My condition comes partly from dedication to my work, partly from observation of my faith.’
Those elements combine, in conjunction with his devotion to his family, into a powerful force. Beterbiev is a Muslim and his homely lifestyle in his adopted Canada — no alcohol, no clubbing, no late nights, no junk food — has kept him in his prime.
‘Resisting temptation is easy if you lead a good life,’ he adds.
This event in Saudi Arabia has captured the fascination of the boxing public worldwide, with its promise of a classic clash of styles between Beterbiev the KO puncher and Bivol the technician.
One additional facet is that Beterbiev not only possesses concussive punching power, but is also equipped with accomplished skills and profoundly intelligent ringcraft.
Between them, these two Russians have the potential to deliver a masterpiece, assuming Beterbiev is fully recovered from the knee operation just five months ago which compelled a postponement of this fight.
Beterbiev has earned a reputation as one of the most fearsome punchers of the modern era
But in Bivol he faces an equally-skilled ringmaster, capable of nullifying a fighter’s offense
Is the massive purse on offer clouding his judgment that the time is right?
He insists: ‘I wouldn’t be doing a fight this important now if the knee wasn’t perfect for boxing. If I was a soccer player it would be a big problem. I am not a soccer player, I am a boxer.’
One of his earlier victims, however, suggests he will still need to do plenty of chasing.
Oleksandr Gvozdyk is a Ukrainian who was expected to emulate countryman Oleksandr Usyk’s dominance of the heavyweight division at light-heavyweight. Until he was monstered, that is.
Gvozdyk has this to say when asked for his advice as to how Bivol should approach this weekend’s fight:
‘Run away.’
Hitting and running may well be the best option for Bivol, not least because Beterbiev is a devastating counter puncher. Evasion worked for Bivol when he inflicted a huge upset on Canelo Alvarez to retain his WBA version of the light-heavyweight title on points, the way he has prevailed in half his fights.
Beterbiev has blown away all his rivals, most recently a pair of Englishmen. First Anthony Yarde who was brave, if foolhardy, in trying to trade blows with him. Then Callum Smith, who went for ducking and dodging in vain.
Beterbiev said of those two: ‘The UK boxers did the best they could. They did not let themselves down in the type of big title unification fight they had not experienced before. Which I had.’
Then, as the defender of the WBC, IBF, WBO, IBO and Ring magazine world titles, he expanded the equation to Bivol’s WBA belt, saying: ‘Unification fights are something different to experience. They are preparation for fighting for the undisputed championship, which brings another dimension.
Beterbiev was full of praise for his last two victims, Englishmen Anthony Yarde and Callum Smith
But the 20-fight veteran insisted his experience on the biggest of stages gave him the edge
‘This is different in emotion, different in importance, different in ambition. To be undisputed is the biggest prize in boxing. This is a really big fight.’
Are you listening Dmitry? Bivol is a more introspective character. He says simply: ‘I am excited to be here. I hope I will be the undisputed champion I have wanted to be all my life.’ Bivol enjoys huge respect within boxing and, at third, ranks higher than Beterbiev in the list of the top 10 pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
At 33 he is six years the younger, at which the elder champion smiles, wryly aware that there are other considerations.
Beterbiev is not just a slugger. Most of his opponents speak in awe of how his shorter punches are damagingly heavy. Worse, he never stops throwing them from all angles until the volume of punishment breaks them down.
He has an iron jaw which is unlikely to be cracked by Bivol’s inferior power. While Bivol is fleet enough of foot to scarper out of range, Beterbiev is a master at closing the distance between himself and opponents, keeping them in the line of fire.
Perhaps most pertinently, he quarters the ring with the same relentless pursuit as Julio Cesar Chavez, the Mexican legend who was a master at cutting off paths of escape.
Conventional wisdom is that when a gifted boxer meets a mighty puncher, the stylist prevails. But there is more to Beterbiev than meets the eye.
Bookies are quoting Bivol as a short odds-on favourite. Beterbiev says with a playful growl: ‘We’ll see. I am tough also.’
Both of the combatants in Saturday’s headline bout are yet to taste defeat inside the ring in their professional careers
So who will it be? The pure stylist without a concussive punch, or the knockout artist who can box into the bargain?
It is not beyond the realm of possibility for Bivol to prevail by yet another of his decisions. Beterbiev has the capability of victory on points or by stoppage.
I expect the latter, hopefully later in the fight for this to constitute an unforgettable Arabian night.
