Former Bellator star says there’s a boxing world champion that hits harder than ‘Any of MMA heavyweights that I spar with’

In his lengthy combat sports career, Ryan Ford has shared the ring and cage with a plethora of gifted opponents, but one hits significantly harder than anyone else.

Despite not having the sheer size of some of the MMA heavyweights he’s sparred with, there’s a certain Russian whose power is on ‘Another level’.

Photo by James Chance/Getty ImagesRyan Ford says Artur Beterbiev hits harder than anyone he’s ever fought or sparredRyan Ford is a veteran of the combat sports scene, with an impressive run of fighting talented opposition.

During his stint in MMA, the Canadian has travelled across the globe, competing in organisations like World Series of Fighting, losing to Jake Shields, and Bellator, where he defeated Luís Santos and Kyle Baker.

In addition, the Alberta athlete has set foot in the boxing ring, taking on the likes of Joshua Buatsi and Avni Yildirim.

He still regularly trains with heavyweight MMA fighters, but of all his opponents in the gym and under the lights across two sports, he hasn’t felt power quite like that of Artur Beterbiev.

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The formidable brawler, who’s knocked out all 20 of his professional opponents, has earned a reputation as possibly the hardest-hitting pound-for-pound boxer on the planet.

On Saturday evening, ‘King Artur’ will face the toughest test of his career, when he goes to war with Dmitry Bivol for all the belts at light heavyweight in a match-up that pits together two of the greatest fighters in the history of the weight class.

In his esteemed career, Bivol has proven his skill beyond doubt, but he’ll have a difficult time keeping his rival at bay, as Ford explains that nobody punches quite like ‘King Artur’.

In an interview with Gunman Boxing, he said: “[The hardest puncher I’ve faced], it was not even a fight, it was sparring, and the man is fighting this weekend — Artur Beterbiev. Bro, ten days, I did 36 rounds with this man, this guy is a killer. I’ve never felt power in both hands from MMA heavyweight fighters that I spar with. This guy is another level.”

What does the future have in store for Artur Beterbiev?While Beterbiev should undeniably be focusing on the task at hand, according to his coach, he’s already thinking about the next step.

Should the icon win this weekend, he’ll have every single belt at 175-pounds in his possession.

Thus, at the age of 39, it could potentially serve as a fantastic opportunity to run off into the sunset.

But his trainer explained that the Russian has other ideas.

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