RUSSIAN fighting is a dirty phrase around the world right now but it’s providing one of the most beautiful boxing scenes possible this weekend.
Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev have been forced to leave their homes – for the USA and Canada respectively – as Vladimir Putin tries to fight the rest of decent civilization.
And there are unlikely to be any white, blue and red flags raised or Russia national anthem played in Riyadh.
But hopefully politics can be put aside as we watch possibly the finest pugilism contest available on planet earth right now.
There are bigger-money bouts around, rematches and trilogies to dream about, there are definitely more outrageous showmen and trash talkers in the bleeding business.
But when you combine their amateur pedigrees and achievements, with their undefeated professional records and their blatant clash of styles – and …