Artur Beterbiev Declared Winner Against Dmitry Bivol To Become Undisputed Light-Heavyweight Champion.
In a thrilling encounter in Saudi Arabia, Artur Beterbiev defeated Dmitry Bivol by majority decision to become the undisputed light-heavyweight world champion. The much-anticipated clash between the two undefeated Russian fighters lived up to its billing, with Beterbiev emerging victorious with scores of 114-114, 115-113, and 116-112.
The contest, which saw Bivol dominate the early rounds with his swift movement and precise combinations, could have gone either way. However, the 39-year-old Beterbiev, known for his relentless power, clawed his way back into the fight with constant pressure, ultimately swaying the judges in his favour. This win makes Beterbiev the division’s first undisputed champion since 2002, and the first in the four-belt era.
Despite his victory, Beterbiev remained humble in his post-fight remarks. “I feel not bad. I did not do well today. I wanted to box with more quality,” said the now WBC, WBA (Super), IBF, and WBO champion.
For 33-year-old Bivol, it marked his first professional loss in 24 fights. “I am a warrior. I did my job, but I felt like I could do better,” he said, expressing some disappointment with the judges’ decision.
The bout saw both fighters exhibit their finest skills in a contest that had boxing fans on the edge of their seats. Bivol started strong, using his jab effectively and landing well-timed combinations, while Beterbiev weathered the storm, finding success with a powerful body shot in the fifth round. In the seventh, both fighters were hurt, with Bivol stunning Beterbiev before the latter responded with a ferocious barrage of punches.
As the fight entered the championship rounds, Beterbiev’s corner urged him to look for a knockdown, but while he couldn’t secure the knockout punch to maintain his perfect record, he finished the fight on a high, winning the last three rounds on all three judges’ scorecards.
Beterbiev’s historic win solidifies his place among the all-time light-heavyweight greats. However, given the close nature of the bout, calls for a rematch are already gaining momentum within the boxing community.
Meanwhile, Bivol’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, expressed his dissatisfaction with the decision, stating: “I don’t want to disrespect Beterbiev, but that judge should never work again. No one in our row had Beterbiev winning.”
In the chief support of the night, British heavyweight Fabio Wardley retained his title with a first-round stoppage win over Frazer Clarke in their rematch, adding further excitement to the event.
As for Beterbiev, his triumph in the Middle East has cemented his legacy, and the boxing world now awaits what could be an inevitable rematch with Bivol.
