It is around six weeks since Lyndon Arthur received the offer to fight WBA light heavyweight champion, Dmitry Bivol, on this weekends ‘Day of Reckoning’ show in Saudi Arabia.
Rumors about a fight with Bivol began to circulate after Arthur won the IBO title in September, getting off the floor to stop Braian Suarez in ten rounds. The call might have come sooner than he expected, but the chance to fight arguably the best light heavyweight in the world on one of the biggest events in history was impossible to turn down.
At his best, Arthur (23-1, 16 KO’s) is a calm, relaxed fighter with a world class jab. Establishing that weapon against a fighter of Bivol’s ability will be the toughest task of Arthur’s seven year long career but the Mancunian is relishing the opportunity to pit his wits against a man he considers to be one of the best fighters in the sport.
“It is what it is. If somebody comes up to you in the street and says ‘Lets fight’ you don’t get ten weeks. That’s how I’ve looked at it. We’re here now. Let’s just do it,” Arthur said at the grand arrivals for this weekends spectacular in Saudi Arabia.
“I was a fan of him, I’m a fan of him still and I’ll be a fan of him after it. He’s one of the best Pound-for-Pound fighters, why should I say no to that? Why should I not challenge that? That’s what we’re in boxing for. Let’s do it.
“I’ve got a plan in my head but on Saturday it might be a bit different when you get in there and sh!t don’t work. Bivol’s a great operator but I believe I am also and I believe I’ll adapt to whatever’s in the ring. We’ll find out Saturday.”
On January 13th, Arthur’s fellow Brit, Callum Smith, gets his opportunity to shake up the light heavyweight scene when he fights WBC, IBF and WBC champion, Artur Beterbiev, but, by then, Arthur could have already destroyed plans for a long talked about fight between Bivol and Beterbiev which would crown an undisputed champion. Regardless, Arthur isn’t interested in the future. He thinks that he is already facing the best 175lb fighter on the planet this weekend.
“I got asked a while ago who I thought would win between Bivol and Beterbiev. I always thought that the better boxer would always beat the better fighter. I’ve sparred Beterbiev and he’s not just a brawler. He’s not just a strong, come forward fighter. He’s actually got a boxing brain and he’s good at what he does but I do believe Bivol has got the better boxing ability and would come through if they ever fought.”