It has often been said that Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol is the best and most enticing fight to make in the entire sport, and that might well be true. The fighters are exceptionally good at what they do, but each needs a victory over the other to be recognized as the best light heavyweight of their era.

Such is the case in the modern age, when sanctioning-body belts essentially hold their owners hostage, keeping them away from their best opponents for too long. The records of Beterbiev and Bivol – though glossy and eye-catching – are not exactly bulging with truly elite-level opposition.

Bivol has the win over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez – a natural super middleweight – and another over Gilberto Ramirez. But after that, it’s slim pickings when finding opponents on his record that could elevate him to the status of an all-time great. And for Beterbiev, though he has won all his 20 fights by knockout, there is only a smattering of victories over truly befitting opposition.

Nonetheless, over the course of their 10 Greatest Hits – a collaborative effort, with both of their finest showings on the playlist – there are plenty of performances to further whet the appetite for Saturday night’s fight.

10) Beterbiev KO4 Gabriel Campillo (April 2015)

The belief that Beterbiev, an outstanding amateur, was a champion-in-waiting gathered pace with this one-sided drubbing of perennial contender Gabriel Campillo. Though the Spaniard was past his best, he was on a three-fight win streak and widely regarded among the top 10 light heavyweights in the world. Beterbiev, in only his eighth professional outing, dropped his man in the opening round with a right and closed the show with his other hand in the fourth.

9) Bivol UD12 Joe Smith Jr. (March 2019)

Smith, a solid and perennial figure in the 175-pound top 10, is the common rival who highlights the difference in approach taken by Bivol and Beterbiev. Five years ago, with Smith closer to his best than when he encountered Beterbiev, Bivol patiently outboxed and befuddled his willing foe, hurting him on occasion. There was a moment at the end of the 10th, when Smith clattered Bivol on or just after the bell, that saw the Russian walk back to his stool unsteadily. Complete control was regained in the 11th, however.

8) Bivol TKO6 Malik Zinad (June 2024)

Though sometimes a little too happy to go through the motions, Bivol reminded the world what he can do when in a clinical mood. Bivol started quickly, exposing a somewhat crude approach from his opponent, left-hooking Zinad to the mat in the opening round. The challenger continued to burst forward, only to be countered and largely outclassed. Bivol finished matters in the sixth when two shots from his left opened up his foe for a two-fisted barrage.

7) Beterbiev KO9 Marcus Browne (December 2021)

Beterbiev appeared to be getting on top of Browne after a slow start when their heads came together in the fourth and left the favorite with a gruesome, gaping gash in the middle of his forehead. The wound was so severe, in fact, that it continued to pump claret for the remainder of the fight. No matter. Beterbiev decked Browne in the seventh and, after being warned at the start of the ninth that the fight would be stopped due to the cut, duly knocked his opponent out with an uppercut.

6) Beterbiev TKO8 Anthony Yarde (January 2023)

There were moments (and only moments) when Yarde looked like he might (and only might) pull off a ginormous upset when he challenged Beterbiev in London last year. Yarde had success to the point that two of the three judges had him winning the firefight going into the eighth. Not for the last time, however, Beterbiev responded positively. With both fighters cut, Beterbiev fired an overhand right that wobbled Yarde, then another that floored him. With the fight as good as over, the Englishman’s corner rescued their man when further punishment came hurtling at him.