Artur Beterbiev secured a hard-fought majority decision victory over Dmitry Bivol in Riyadh to become the first undisputed light heavyweight champion in over two decades. In a tactical and intense 12-round battle, Beterbiev, known for his knockout power, was taken the distance for the first time in his career, but ultimately edged Bivol with scores of 115-113, 116-112, and 114-114.
The 39-year-old Beterbiev, now 21-0 with 20 KOs, added Bivol’s WBA title to his collection of WBC, IBF, and WBO belts, unifying the division for the first time since Roy Jones Jr. achieved the feat in 1999. Despite Bivol’s fast start, using his agility and sharp combinations to outpoint Beterbiev in the early rounds, the champion’s relentless pressure and power shots shifted the momentum in the latter half of the fight.
Bivol (21-1), who entered the bout undefeated and with a victory over Canelo Alvarez on his record, frustrated Beterbiev with his movement and precision. However, as the fight wore on, Beterbiev’s relentless forward pressure and punishing body shots took their toll, narrowing the scorecards in his favor.
The final rounds saw Beterbiev ramp up his aggression, forcing Bivol to fight on the back foot. Despite Bivol’s flashes of brilliance, including a strong ninth round, Beterbiev’s powerful combinations and relentless drive earned him the victory.
“It was a tough fight, Dmitry is a great fighter,” Beterbiev said after the bout. “I wasn’t comfortable at times, but I kept pushing. It’s an honor to be the undisputed champion.”
Bivol, gracious in defeat, congratulated his opponent and hinted at a potential rematch. “I did my best, but the judges saw it for Artur. I’m proud of my performance and look forward to what comes next.”
The undercard featured Jai Opetaia retaining his IBF cruiserweight title with a sixth-round stoppage, and Skye Nicolson making history as the first woman to defend a world title in Saudi Arabia, winning her WBC featherweight bout by unanimous decision.
Be First to Comment