| |
|
Dmitry Bivol Outduels Artur Beterbiev in Rematch for Undisputed Light Heavyweight Crown
PhilBoxing.com Sun, 23 Feb 2025

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Feb. 22, 2025) — Dmitry Bivol became the undisputed light heavyweight world champion with a majority decision over Artur Beterbiev Saturday evening at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Four months after suffering a razor-thin defeat to Beterbiev, Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) returned the favor, avenging the lone blemish on his record with a tactical approach that paid dividends in the mid-to-late rounds.
Bivol looked to box early, but Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) started fast, punishing him with body shots that had a visible effect in the third and fourth rounds. He continued to press in the fifth and sixth, peppering Bivol with his signature short, thudding shots.
Then, as if by design, Bivol turned the tide in the second half. The seventh and eighth rounds showcased vintage Bivol as he maneuvered in and out of range, pumping his jab and countering with crisp straight punches. His momentum surged in rounds nine and ten, as his movement and counters made him a difficult target.
Beterbiev, sensing the fight slipping away, emptied the tank in the championship rounds. He pressed forward and hurt Bivol in the 12th, sweeping the final round on all three scorecards. But it was too late.
One judge had it 114-114, while the other two scored it 116-112 and 115-113 for Bivol.
Bivol said, “I’m just so happy. I went through a lot during the last years.”
“To be honest, I lost, and I felt a little easier, maybe. I didn’t have too much pressure like the time before. And I just wanted to work from the first round till the end of the 12th round.”
“The difference was me. I was better. I was pushing myself more. I was more confident and lighter. And I just wanted to win so much today.”
Beterbiev said, “I don’t want to talk about the decision. It’s tough. I congratulate Bivol and his team."
“I don’t know {what was different}. I think this fight was better than the first time.”
“Actually, I didn’t even want the second fight. It wasn’t my choice. But, no problem. We can do the third fight.”
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Open Workout: Abdullah Mason and Albert Bell Prepare For Saturday's All-Ohio World Title Showdown , Thu, 02 Jul 2026Dela Peña stops Delos Santos, now ready for Slugfest By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 02 Jul 2026A Filipino Champion’s Last Fourth of July: A Visit to Oaks Ball Park By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 02 Jul 2026Amazing Muay Thai WBC 2026 Festival Consolidates Its Global Success in Bangkok By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 02 Jul 2026IBA Bare Knuckle unveils star-studded fight card ahead of its first event in the USA , Thu, 02 Jul 2026Eman-Perez trilogy being set up in August By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 01 Jul 2026Macababayao to face again Latonio after 4 years in Slugfest By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 01 Jul 2026Legendary Olympic Trainer Victor Pascual to be inducted into the Republica Dominicana Hall of Fame By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 01 Jul 2026Abdullah Mason vs. Albert Bell Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels , Wed, 01 Jul 2026HISTORIC NIGHT OF CELEBRATION FOR IRISH SPORT AWAITS AS UNDERCARD FOR KATIE TAYLOR VS PILI AT CROKE PARK iS CONFIRMED , Wed, 01 Jul 2026Paradero to fight Cuarto for PBF Silver title on July 25 By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 01 Jul 2026World Boxing Council Joins the Humanitarian Aid Relief for Earthquake Victims in Venezuela By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 01 Jul 2026LESTER MARTINEZ VS. LUKA PLANTIC ANNOUNCEMENT PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES , Wed, 01 Jul 2026KORONADAL SLUGFEST: I’m always ready – Roherstrey Jhon Yor By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 01 Jul 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 29 JUNE 2026: Paro UD Crocker for IBF Welter Title; Ennis Stops Zayas in 7 for WBA, WBO Welter Titles; Wins by Whittaker, Vargas and Tucker; Valenzuela KO2 De Los Santos By Eric Armit, , Tue, 30 Jun 2026Rising Featherweight Star Jaycob "The Raging Bull" Ramos Signs Exclusive Management Agreement with Boxing VIP , Tue, 30 Jun 2026Clarion to leave on July 2 for WBC Youth title By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 30 Jun 2026Gustavo Trujillo Stays Undefeated with Devastating Seventh-Round Knockout at Fist of Fury 11 , Tue, 30 Jun 2026World Boxing Council Unveils Special July 4th Commemorative Belt Honoring USA 250th Anniversary By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 30 Jun 202612-Year-Old Filipina Memory Prodigy Georgina Santos to Represent the Philippines in Two World Memory Championships By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 30 Jun 2026World championship mega-fight between Christian Mbilli and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez postponed to October , Mon, 29 Jun 2026Filipino Jonas Magpantay wins Indonesia; pockets $15,000, gains steam heading to Vietnam By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 29 Jun 2026Ex-kickboxer to debut in MMA Slugfest By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 29 Jun 2026Deaño settles to a draw By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 28 Jun 2026Abdyrakhmanov defeats Kadiev, Kudryashov knocks out Yousefi at IBA Bare Knuckle 5 in Moscow , Sun, 28 Jun 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|