Artur Beterbiev showed off an incredible training drill using a sledgehammer as he prepares to rematch Dmitry Bivol.
The current undisputed light-heavyweight champion recently beat Bivol in their thrilling encounter after a controversial majority decision went in his favour.
Instagram – Artur BeterbievBeterbiev crashed a tire for one hour with a sledgehammer[/caption]
Beterbiev at the age of 39 looks as strong as ever, a frightening operator with earth-shattering punching power, which has seen him win 20 of his 21 professional fights by KO.
‘The Rabbit’ has only ever been taken the distance by Bivol as a professional, and he will hope to go one better and finish the contest in their February 22 rematch.
Before their maiden encounter, Beterbiev left fans bewildered after performing a remarkable wrist exercise to improve the dynamite power in his hands, a technique which has clearly worked.
And his latest training drill has received a similar reaction, as Beterbiev used a sledge hammer to increase his strength.
The video mirrored that of Sylvester Stallone in the ‘Rocky’ films based on Rocky Balboa, a fighter who used a sledge hammer to batter some vehicle tyres as a training exercise.
But the current undefeated champion took things to a new level, with some crushing blows using the tool.
And incredibly, it was revealed by his coach that he performed the drill for around an hour, a mammoth display of strength and conditioning.
Fans couldn’t believe what they were watching as Beterbiev battered the hammer, and his coach placed a timer on during the drill.
One wrote in the comments: “A light work out for him, this guy is a machine.”
Another agreed: “Bro is training to kill Bivol. Hope he makes it out alive.”
Instagram – Artur BeterbievBeterbiev completed an hour timed set, and looks in frightening shape[/caption]
Others couldn’t comprehend the time, with one writing: “That has to be cap wtf.
“How is he not even sweating? That can’t be real.”
A viewer added: “He is an absolute savage of a man.”
One final fan was less optimistic, concluding: “This is not how to box. Bivol will smoke him again.”
Beterbiev was pushed all the way by his recent rival who gave him the sternest examination of his credentials so far.
He will have to be once again be at his best to battle past the slick-moving boxer in Bivol, who will fancy his chances of revenge.
Beterbiev’s promoter Bob Arum believes the champion will take a different approach this time out, to counter the strengths of Bivol.
“There was a bit of debate, it was a very close fight. I thought Beterbiev won that fight,” he said.
“I thought that Beterbiev in the first fight was a little too tentative till the later rounds. I think it will be different this fight.
“The only way he wins every fight that he fought was by knockout and he did not win that fight by knockout.
“So obviously he would want to win the fight by knockout and he almost had the guy going in the last couple of rounds.
“I think if that fight went two more rounds, I don’t think Bivol was getting out of the ring. Maybe he learned from that and we’ll see.”