Mike Coppinger has coated boxing since 2010 with roles at USA At present, Ring Journal and The Athletic earlier than he joined ESPN in 2021. You may comply with him on Twitter: @MikeCoppinger
Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol will meet in a uncommon match between the 2 finest fighters within the division to crown the primary mild heavyweight undisputed champion within the four-belt period Saturday evening in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (ESPN, 5:30 p.m. ET).
Beterbiev (20-0, 20), the WBC, WBO and IBF titleholder, is boxing’s solely champion with a 100% knockout ratio. He has been a 175-pound champion since 2017.
The struggle has been years within the making. There hasn’t been an undisputed champion within the division since Roy Jones Jr. vacated considered one of his titles in 2000 (three-belt period).
