Artur Beterbiev’s journey from the turbulent streets of Dagestan to the pinnacle of professional boxing is a story shaped by hardship, resilience and the will to overcome.
At the age of 37, Beterbiev’s life was marked by extreme challenges, including street fights in his youth, sharing a cramped apartment with thirty others, and the loss of his father in a tragic accident.
But Beterbiev – who almost left the sport entirely after the death of his father – believes these experiences have equipped him to take on the most important challenge of his career: fighting fellow countryman and WBA titleholder Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed light-heavyweight crown this weekend. .
Born in 1985 in Khasavyurt, Dagestan, Beterbiev grew up in turbulent times. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the region – and its family – in turmoil.
Economic instability hit hard and the challenges of daily life were constant in Beterbiev’s early years. His father, the sole breadwinner of the family, worked tirelessly to make ends meet.
At the age of 37, Beterbiev’s life was marked by extreme challenges, including street fights in his youth, sharing a cramped apartment with 30 others and the loss of his father in a tragic accident.
But Beterbiev believes these experiences have equipped him to take on the most important challenge of his career: fighting Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed light-heavyweight crown.
Beterbiev started working with Charlotte Daly from Mail Sport on Saturday evening
“I’m a big believer that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” Beterbiev said as he recalled the hardships he and his family had endured. ‘People have different paths to the top.
‘Some people have it easier and some people have it harder. There’s no denying that what I went through was tough. But if those things didn’t happen to me, I wouldn’t be here today. I wouldn’t be the fighter I am today.’
Tragedy struck the family in 2001 when Beterbiev’s father died in a car accident, leaving the young boxer and his siblings to live life without their patriarch. Beterbiev, who had been working at a gas station to provide for his family, admitted that his career goals had been put on hold.
‘At that time I wasn’t thinking about becoming a world star. My dreams weren’t that big then. I actually dreamed of vacations and time off from school. But I knew I had to fight and earn some money for my family. So I started working at the gas station and also did boxing.’
It was during this time that Beterbiev became involved in the world of street fighting. Unlike some of his peers, including fellow boxer Bivol, who had unwritten rules for their fights – which usually ended when blood was spilled or emotions ran high – Beterbiev’s experiences were much more brutal.
His street encounters showed little mercy and often quickly escalated into dangerous confrontations, making street fights a dangerous outlet for his frustrations and pent-up aggression.
‘Street fighting is a completely different experience. It’s also a different life. It was like fighting to the death.”
His older brother, concerned for his safety, intervened and sent him to the gym and away from the chaos of street fighting. Under the leadership of his brother, Beterbiev turned into a disciplined and ruthless fighter. His raw talent grew into a force that terrified opponents around the world and became known for his devastating knockout power.
‘I have to thank my brother. My older brother took me to the gym and insisted that I train harder and focus on that instead of street fighting. So I trained with him and stopped fighting in the streets.”
His mother, although deeply concerned about the brutality of the sport, provided emotional support and guidance. “It’s hard for her to watch me boxing,” Beterbiev admits, “but she’s always tried to help me. She finds it difficult to wait for the results or think about me in the ring. But she has always tried to support me.
‘If it wasn’t for my mother, I would quit boxing. Shortly after my father passed away, I was invited to the Olympic Reserve School. It was a dream and a unique opportunity, but I really didn’t want to leave.
‘Whether my father’s death affected me that much, or whether something else was going on. But the thought of leaving home, leaving my mother behind, always scared me. And I was willing to give up what would obviously put a cross on my career.
‘My mother knew how important boxing was, that it could become my life, and convinced me to go. You’ll know later how it all turned out. But I think about who I would have been if I refused to go to Moscow, and it makes me think about how happy I am with my mother.’
Beterbiev’s father also shared his concerns about his son’s growing passion for boxing when the young fighter first showed an interest in the sport during his childhood. While he was alive, he worried about the risks involved and preferred that his son focus on academics rather than the cutthroat world of boxing.
Beterbiev said: “My father didn’t like me boxing at first. He was more concerned about me doing well in school. But when I won bronze at the World Championships and gave him proof of that, he gave me his approval.”
Fast forward to today: Beterbiev is the undefeated light heavyweight world champion, holding the WBC, IBF and WBO titles with a perfect 20-0 record, all by knockout.
‘People talk a lot about my knockouts. But I never think about knocking out my opponent. I just do my job as best I can, and when the knockout comes, it comes. I just try to be prepared for whatever comes my way, all possible scenarios.”
The 39-year-old has dominated the ring against top contenders like Oleksandr Gvozdyk, Callum Smith and Joe Smith Jr., but his biggest challenge lies ahead.
This weekend he will take on compatriot and WBA title holder Bivol for the undisputed light heavyweight crown – a showdown that fans have been eagerly awaiting.
When asked about the match, Beterbiev expressed his respect for Bivol’s skill and experience, but made it clear that he is ready for whatever comes next. “I give Bivol the respect he deserves,” he said.
“We prepare for him like he’s a good boxer. He has good experience and he is a professional boxer who holds one belt, so I have to respect that.
‘We are of course prepared. We are prepared for different things and whatever he comes at me with. We’ll see what happens on Saturday night.’
As fight night approaches, the world waits to see if Beterbiev can maintain his undefeated record and cement his legacy as one of the sport’s most fearsome champions.