- Dmitry Bivol puts his IBO and WBA World Light Heavyweight titles at stake against Malik Zinad this Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Bivol and Zinad are undefeated fighters with 22 wins apiece.
- Bivol is the heavy favorite at -2500, and Zinad is the overwhelming +1000 underdog.
Reigning WBA Super World Light Heavyweight and IBO World Light Heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol is scheduled to defend both his titles against undefeated challenger Malik Zinad this Saturday inside the Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia.
‼️ It's Fight Week: Who wins & how?
🥊Dmirtry Bivol 🆚 Malik Zinad
🏆WBA light-heavyweight world title
📆 Saturday, June 1st
⌚ 7 p.m. UK / 2 p.m. ET
📍 Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
📺 DAZN & TNT Sports Boxing#EddieHearn #FrankWarren #ZhileiZhang #DeontayWilder… pic.twitter.com/wNhV8lpiSE— FTTV Boxing (@FTTVBoxing) May 27, 2024
Despite being undefeated, Zinad looks to defy the boxing odds, as he’s the overwhelming betting underdog in the match with +1000. Meanwhile, Bivol is expected to win another lopsided decision because of his heavy betting number of -2500.
Dmitry Bivol Recent Fight Results
Bivol has been the WBA light heavyweight champion since November 2017, when he defeated Trent Broadhurst. Since then, he has successfully defended the title 10 consecutive times. His biggest win during that stretch was his upset of Canelo Álvarez in May 2022.
The Russian athlete, who now resides in California, is coming off another masterful decision victory against Lyndon Arthur in December, which added the IBO World Light Heavyweight title to his collection. Bivol looks to extend his perfect record to 23-0.
Malik Zinad Recent Fight Results
Zinad is an undefeated boxer from Libya who has been competing professionally since October 2015. This will be his first world title opportunity after he agreed to be a late replacement opponent for Bivol. He aims to score a monumental upset against the Russian champion.
The 30-year-old challenger’s resume isn’t eye-popping, but he has won various regional belts, including the WBF International Light Heavyweight title, the IBO Inter-Continental Light Heavyweight title, and the WBC Mediterranean Light Heavyweight title.
Dmitry Bivol vs. Malik Zinad: Tale of the Tape
| Dmitry Bivol | Malik Zinad | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 33 | 30 |
| Height | 6’0” | 6’1” |
| Reach | 72 inches | N/A |
| Record | 22-0 | 22-0 |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| TKO/KO Percentage | 50% | 73% |
Dmitry Bivol vs. Malik Zinad: Fight Analysis
The tale of the tape between Bivol and Zinad is almost the same. The only differences are the latter’s 1-inch height advantage over the former and the three-year age gap, as the defending champion is older than the challenger. Both athletes have 22 pro wins on their records.
They have different stylistic approaches to beating their opponents. Bivol beats them through his technical and cerebral style because he maximizes his fight IQ and cardio. Once he reads his opponent’s tendencies and patterns, he’ll start breaking them down.
On the other hand, Zinad relies on his power. When he lands a clean shot, he starts to overwhelm them with more pressure and punches until they are out. However, Zinad hasn’t fought the calibre of fighters Bivol has faced, and it will be interesting to see if he could translate this approach against a world champion.
The biggest factor heading into this match is the late notice for both boxers. Zinad accepted this fight on a three-week notice after Bivol’s original opponent, Artur Beterbiev, pulled out due to an injury he suffered during training camp. This comes down to who can adjust their fight plans quickly.
That fighter for me is Bivol. Not only is he the defending world champion, but his intelligence as a fighter is also on point. In fact, he can swiftly adjust his approach mid-fight, and three weeks of preparation against a new opponent is more than enough for him to tweak his strategy.
However, fans should not expect a TKO/KO finish from him because Bivol is expected to play it safe and be happy to dominate the fight round-by-round and pile up the points on judges’ scorecards to secure another unanimous decision win.
Dmitry Bivol vs. Malik Zinad: Date and Start Time
June 1, 2:00 p.m. E.T.
June 1, 1:00 p.m. C.T.
June 1, 11:00 a.m. P.T.
Dmitry Bivol vs. Malik Zinad: Official Prediction
Official Prediction: Unanimous decision win for Dmitry Bivol.
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