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Analysis

Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol undisputed clash to decide 'perfect warrior,' says Johnny Nelson

Blockbuster October 12 bill features Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol undisputed light-heavyweight showdown, the Fabio Wardley versus Frazer Clarke British heavyweight championship rematch, Chris Eubank Jr and Ben Whittaker in separate fights and more, live on Sky Sports Box Office

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Johnny Nelson believes that the second fight between Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke will not go the distance after their epic draw in March. Live on Sky Sports box office on October 12

As Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol fight to decide light-heavyweight supremacy, the Fabio Wardley versus Frazer Clarke heavyweight rematch is sure to be 'brutal'. Sky Sports' boxing expert Johnny Nelson appraises the big October 12 bill.

I believe Artur Beterbiev can end Dmitry Bivol's unbeaten run.

Beterbiev boxed Oleksandr Usyk in the amateurs and the style of fight was relentless. He was determined. Just wouldn't let go and I think he'll do exactly the same again.

Full October 12 Sky Sports Box Office card

  • Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol
  • Fabio Wardley vs Frazer Clarke II
  • Jai Opetaia vs Jack Massey
  • Chris Eubank Jr vs Kamil Szeremeta
  • Skye Nicolson vs Raven Chapman
  • Ben Whittaker vs Liam Cameron

In a dictionary, if you had the perfect boxers, the perfect warriors, it would be a picture of one of these two fighters. They are the perfect warrior. No one's going to take a backwards step.

One's going to try and box and outfox, and one's going to try and walk through iron. It is going to be such a fight. But I'm going Beterbiev because I think he's the real deal.

He's a brilliant offensive fighter - hardly takes a backwards step. He's not baffled by any skullduggery.

I think Bivol will try and outbox him but he won't. Beterbiev will cover up. He'll take the shots. He'll see what you've got. You'll hit him with a shot and he'll instantly react with a shot. He'll cover up for a split second then turn it on and he'll throw three, four, five shot combinations and not leave you alone.

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So if you've got any holes in your defence. He's punching through them, and he punches like a mule kicks.

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Rulers of the light heavyweight division Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol went head to head at the London press conference for their October 12th fight

Wardley-Clarke II will be 'brutal'

For Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke I don't think we can expect anything else but round 13. This fight rolls on. We did a Gloves are Off with them last week and even though they don't dislike each other that professionalism is there. Their careers, as far as Clarke's concerned, depend on it. Because he's thinking I can't afford to lose to this guy.

This fight was just brutal from the off. Wardley - constant, consistent pressure. Clarke, inexperienced as a professional but still stuck it out and dug in deep. They were absolutely exhausted. But the pace they had for heavyweights was mad.

When Clarke went down, he had to dig deep in his soul and think I'm not losing.

It takes a lot for a fighter to think I'm going to go through all that again. That's why I call it round 13.

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Chris Eubank Jr says a future fight against Ben Whittaker was not on his radar but wouldn't rule out the possibility one day

Clarke's got to understand what he did wrong. He's got to understand where he slipped up.

He had to answer a question that he'd never been asked before as a professional - could he box at that pace as a professional fighter?

Wardley's been there, he's been in the trenches. As far as he's concerned the pressure's on Clarke more than it is on him.

Wardley believes this fight doesn't go the distance so he's going for the stoppage.

Both fighters are very capable of stopping each other, we saw that. Wardley probably looked the more concussive puncher of the two but I've got to give credit to Clarke. He was going through something new.

It's going to be an exciting fight.

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Ben Whittaker responds to Chris Eubank Jr's comment about facing each other in the near future

Eubank returns

Chris Eubank Jr is one of the very few fighters who is in such a powerful position to have no titles. You want to watch him box.

That air of mystique about him is not about what he says, it's about what he doesn't say. He's very matter-of-fact. Very much like his father, there's something about him that you either love or loathe.

I personally don't think we've seen the best of him.

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Ben Whittaker was disapointed with the music for his press conference entrance and says that concerns him more than opponent Liam Cameron

Whittaker can be our next superstar

Ben Whittaker reminds me of Prince Naseem Hamed.

Ben Whittaker has everything going for him. He says it. He walks it. He talks it. He can box, he can be flash. He can get your imagination going. You're looking thinking I want to see him get hit.

If he can take this to world level, Ben Whittaker will be our next superstar.

Fabio Wardley's huge rematch with Frazer Clarke is on the epic Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol bill on Saturday October 12 live on Sky Sports Box Office. Book Wardley v Clarke 2 and Beterbiev v Bivol now!