Artur Beterbiev Like Terminator Says: “I’m Very Human”

DON’T LET the look of horror in his eyes fool you. Artur Beterbiev may stare at his opponent like a butcher examining a corpse but the emotions that flash through his mind are familiar to all of us. However, very few of us can weaponize these emotions the way the Russians can.

“You have to feel fear but you have to control your fear. It’s normal. I am a very simple guy. I’m just a boxer. I am very human. I’m not a robot, he said boxing newsHis unedited beard flashed a warm smile as he moved his arm back and forth mechanically.

“I am like everyone else. But to control is different. Some control and some can’t do it.

The world light-heavyweight champion returned to action in Great Britain on January 28 for the first time since the 2012 London Olympic Games, where he lost in the quarter-finals to a certain Oleksandr Usyk at heavyweight. As Anthony Yarde’s challenge approached, Beterbiev revealed a different side of his character, adding a demonic air to the press conference as he called his opponent a “bodybuilder” and considers his remarkable 18 consecutive kills as “lucky”. . For many other boxers, such a rare feat would be surrounded by crowds from the rooftops and used to intimidate potential adversaries, but the Russians see such thinking as truly offensive. a distraction in his constant efforts to improve.

“Everything is in the past, you know? i don’t think about it [his KO record]. I always look forward, looking for the future, not the past. And that’s why I don’t remember about a knockout match in the past. It won’t help me in the future.”

Despite the fact that Beterbiev was intent on downplaying his formidable number of saves (the current champion or belt holder with such a record), the boxing public was certainly swept up in the performance. unrelenting about his fighting style. It is not merely the Russian withering attack on the head and body and the sight of his bloodied face is held aloft like a gladiator from a bygone era. Beterbiev shows something about his hero, Mike Tyson, when he tries to make his opponent feel defeated before launching a punch. Even for those of us watching from the safety of our television screens, it feels dangerous, but the change from a genre athlete toying with the media to a barbarian His next victim’s disgusted glare was very obvious. It was clearly a transformation he made consciously.

“You know, when friend Do different things, you are different. It’s the same. When I do really dangerous things, I have to change!” he laughs.

“Mentally, it’s always different. That’s why I like this. When you go [to] every fight is different feelings, different things, everything. I remember, when I started my professional career, I didn’t understand many things. Going professional from amateur is a big change.”

Artur Beterbiev (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Of course, there is another boxer whose name never leaves any discussion of Beterbiev; It’s a boxing news’ Warrior of the Year 2022, Dmitry Bivol. As the WBA light-heavyweight belt holder, Bivol is the only one standing in the way of the champion claiming all major sanctioning body titles. Beterbiev, while focused on his next challenge in Yarde, has not shied away from asking questions around this potential superfight, making his intentions ‘indisputable’ clear. .

“You know, it would be nice if I wanted another belt, wouldn’t it? Too good! I want another belt. That’s it. Dad and I need one more. I don’t know why they don’t want to, why don’t they want to come to fight? I do not know. It is good. Like, after this fight, you’ll know who’s the best at light-heavyweight, you know? Very good!”

Bob Arum, Beterbiev’s promoter at Top Rated, is certainly of the opinion that he has a special boxer on his hands. The 90-year-old hype king Arum has seen the likes of Bob Foster and Matthew Saad Muhammad compete but believes, at least for today, he’s got his hands on the heaviest weight ever. 175 lbs in Russian shape. For Beterbiev, building such a legacy in the sport is certainly fascinating, but his focus remains on the challenges ahead, namely the challenge of Dmitry Bivol and the fascinating quest was upgraded to cruiser class.

“That’s a really good thing [the praise he receives] but I don’t think about those things. You know when we have kids, when our kids want something, they want the thing and then you give it and that’s it. For me it’s not like this. Even if I win my fourth belt tomorrow, that doesn’t mean ‘I’m fine. I do not want to continue.’ No, I want to continue me because I feel good. I want to do that, to face another challenge. You know, this weight class or the next one. I want to (right) fight continuously, without stopping. Not now.”

Beterbiev’s intense focus on his professional development has resulted in a series of videos from various training camps going viral. In this clip, fans can see examples of the intensity of his efforts to improve strength and explosiveness: often unorthodox but clearly effective. However, in addition to the physical demands of coach Marc Ramsay’s gym in Montreal, Canada, the undefeated Russian tennis player has also presented challenges to enhance mental focus and ability. strategize in the night of the fighting.

“I just started playing chess. Just for boxing because I think it helps me in boxing. I do several different things to make me better right now. It’s so good. It’s in your mind that you have different things that you need…” he paused, trying to find words in English and mimicking the arrangement of the pieces on the board. A knot of concentration flashed across his forehead.

“I play chess just to help in mind. I think it is helping. I try. I have English class twice a week and I try to improve my English. I have many things, English, boxing. You know, there’s a lot of things I need to improve on and I have space to improve in boxing, English and then French.”

However, the regimen designed to reach his boxing heights has nothing to do with any time he actually spends watching the sport he ruthlessly dominates. He said Betterbiev is not a fan of boxing. So how does a man with 300 amateur fights and a decade of domination on the pro levels stay motivated?

“I think it’s the belt,” he replied. “And also because my dream is to one day become a good boxer. I think those things help push me to keep going.”

To become a good boxer someday. Beterbiev’s eyes narrowed to break any hint of false modesty and he swiveled in his chair to emphasize the seriousness of the matter. So how close is he to his goal? The champion paused, pondered the question, and took a deep breath.

“Not far, I think. I hope. I hope it’s not far away.”

Artur Beterbiev before his game against Joe Smith Jr at the Hulu Theater in Madison Square Garden on June 18, 2022 in New York City (Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)