In the minutes following Dmitry Bivol’s majority decision win against Artur Beterbiev early Sunday morning in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, both men had few words to describe the 36 minutes they went through — a near duplication of the first encounter except Bivol exacted revenge from the first fight last October.
The broadcast was quick to describe the fight as one of the best non-heavyweight fights in recent memory as both men traded punches with each giving one to take another.
Bivol, the new light heavyweight champion, kept his thoughts brief, while Beterbiev, visibly distraught, could only soak in that he was no longer invincible.
Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) — who won the rematch 114-114, 116-112 and 115-113 — said he felt better physically and mentally than in the first fight in October.
“I’m just so happy,” said Bivol, who claimed the WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF light heavyweight titles. “I went through a lot the last year and this is so exciting. I was better. I was pushing myself more. I was more confident. I was lighter. I just wanted to win so much today.”
Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs), who won last October by majority decision, thought he should have earned the decision in the rematch but would rather not explain what changed between the first and second fights.
“I don’t want to talk about the decision,” Beterbiev said. “I just want to say congrats to Bivol. I think this fight was better than the first fight, but now it’s my time to come back.”
Coming back for Beterbiev means one option: a trilogy fight in the near future. His Excellency Turki Al-Sheikh is open to making the fight happen, as he gave a thumbs up to Beterbiev during his in-ring interview.
“We can do the third fight, no problem,” Beterbiev said.
A timetable has not been set for the would-be trilogy fight, but it appears the Riyadh Season schedule is starting to take shape as Al-Sheikh hinted at return fights for some of the sport’s biggest stars, including Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia, to name a few.
Either way, through 24 rounds, it’s even between Beterbiev and Bivol at one fight a piece.
In a high-stakes heavyweight co-main event, Joseph Parker knocked out Martin Bakole with a right hand to the temple with under a minute left in Round 2. Parker (36-3) said after the win that he wants to remain as active as possible and hopes to fight for the undisputed heavyweight title soon.
“I’m fit, I’m strong, I’m healthy and I’m sharp thanks to (my corner),” Parker said in the ring. “The conversation (with trainer Andy Lee) was to be patient and break (Bakole) down. How about I fight for the world title next? How about I fight for the world title? I would like to be champion of the world again, too.”
Meanwhile, Bakole (21-2), who stepped in for Daniel Dubois (illness) under a week’s notice, suffered his first loss since October 2018.
Shakur Stevenson had no trouble with late replacement Josh Padley. Stevenson (23-0) defeated Padley (15-1) by ninth-round TKO to retain his WBC lightweight title.
Carlos Adames and Hamzah Sheeraz fought to a split draw 115-115, 118-110, 114-114, allowing Adames to hang onto his WBC middleweight world title. It is unknown whether the fight will be rebooked, as both men appeared surprised upon the decision being read. Adames (24-1-1) has not lost since November 2019. Sheeraz (21-0-1) remains unbeaten, as it was his first fight requiring the judges’ scorecards in nearly seven years.
Vergil Ortiz outlasted Israil Madrimov by unanimous decision 117-111, 115-113, 115-113 to successfully defend his WBC interim junior middleweight crown. Ortiz (23-0) remained unbeaten by outstriking Madrimov (10-2-1) 106-97 in power punches, according to CompuBox statistics.
Madrimov has lost his last two fights.
Agit Kabayel used his body punches to send Zhilei Zhang to the canvas, earning a sixth-round KO to become the WBO interim light heavyweight champion. Kabayel (26-0) handed Zhang (27-3-1) his first stoppage loss, as his other two defeats came against Parker and Fillip Hrgovic by majority and unanimous decision, respectively.
In other action on the card, Callum Smith defeated Joshua Buatsi by unanimous decision — 119-110, 115-113, 116-112 — to become WBO interim light heavyweight champion.
–Field Level Media
