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Lyndon Arthur is gearing up for a high-stakes showdown with WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol at the upcoming 'Day of Reckoning' event in Saudi Arabia, just six weeks after receiving the fight offer.
Speculation about a potential clash with Bivol started swirling following Arthur's impressive victory over Braian Suarez in September, where he claimed the IBO title after a resilient performance. Despite the short notice, the opportunity to face arguably the best light heavyweight in the world on a prestigious stage was too compelling for Arthur to resist.
Known for his composed style and a potent jab, Arthur (23-1, 16 KOs) is facing what could be the toughest challenge of his seven-year career against Bivol. However, the Manchester native is relishing the chance to test his skills against a fighter he regards as one of the sport's finest.
Speaking ahead of the fight, Arthur expressed his readiness to take on Bivol, stating,
"If somebody comes up to you in the street and says 'Let's fight,' you don't get ten weeks. That's how I've looked at it. We're here now. Let's just do it."
While Arthur's compatriot Callum Smith is set to compete against WBC, IBF, and WBA champion Artur Beterbiev on January 13th, Arthur could potentially disrupt plans for a highly anticipated Bivol-Beterbiev showdown with a victory this weekend. Despite the future implications, Arthur is solely focused on his upcoming bout and considers Bivol to be the best fighter in the 175lb division at present.
"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," Arthur remarked. "I do believe Bivol has got the better boxing ability and would come through if they ever fought."
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