FILE – Russian boxer Dmitry Bivol celebrates after defeating Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez throughout their light-heavyweight world title boxing match at T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas, Nevada, Might 7, 2022. (Picture by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP)
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Dmitry Bivol beat Artur Beterbiev by majority resolution Saturday to grow to be the undisputed mild heavyweight champion, claiming Beterbiev’s 4 championship belts and avenging his first profession loss 4 months in the past.
Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) gained 116-112 and 115-113 on two scorecards, whereas the third choose had a 114-114 draw. The beforehand unbeaten Beterbiev (21-1) gained their first bout by a majority resolution with the identical three closing scores.
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“(The distinction) was simply me,” Bivol stated with a smile whereas holding all 4 title belts. “I used to be higher. I used to be pushing myself extra. I used to be extra assured. I used to be lighter, and I simply needed to win a lot in the present day.
READ: Beterbiev topped undisputed mild heavyweight champion
Bivol turned the rematch in his favor within the center rounds, exhibiting off his punching precision and elusiveness. He stayed away from Beterbiev’s energy, which threatened to resolve the bout early on, and scored with counterpunches whereas Beterbiev’s vitality flagged.
Though Beterbiev surprised Bivol with a proper hand that opened a lower above Bivol’s left eye within the twelfth, Bivol held on for the victory.
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“I’m simply so completely satisfied,” Bivol stated. “I went by way of lots final yr. … To be trustworthy, I misplaced (the primary bout), and I felt a little bit bit simpler, perhaps. I didn’t stress an excessive amount of this time, like earlier than the final combat. I simply needed to work from the primary spherical till the tip of the twelfth. I hoped I did sufficient, and I gained it.”
The principle occasion at ANB Enviornment was a rematch of the sunshine heavyweights’ entertaining first title bout final Oct. 12 at Kingdom Enviornment. Beterbiev gained that slim majority resolution whereas going the gap for the primary time in his profession.
Bivol’s supporters decried the decision that made Beterbiev the primary undisputed mild heavyweight champion within the four-belt period, and a number of other statistical measures backed up their anger. A fast rematch was pure, and the Saudi promoters made it occur atop a title fight-studded card.
READ: Canelo Alvarez units sights on Bivol rematch
“I believe this combat was higher than the primary combat,” stated Beterbiev, who later indicated that he additionally felt he gained the rematch. “Now it’s my time to return again. … Truly, I didn’t even need the second combat. It wasn’t my selection. However no downside. We’re going to do a 3rd combat if we want.”
Bivol light within the closing three rounds of their first combat, throwing a whole lot fewer punches than he managed in his career-defining upset of Canelo Álvarez.
Bivol got here out slugging with Beterbiev within the rematch, however Beterbiev upped his aggression and effectiveness beginning within the third, closing the gap on Bivol and punishing the challenger with physique photographs.
Beterbiev seemed to be on the verge of a bodily dominant victory, however Bivol elevated his exercise and counterpunching within the center rounds to show the combat but once more as Beterbiev drained.
“It was arduous to maintain him on the distance for the primary 4 rounds, however then I noticed that he was drained,” Bivol stated. “I used to be drained, however he was drained additionally, and I needed to be smarter. I needed to punch extra, clear punches, and I did.”
Bivol rose to stardom in 2022 together with his spectacular victory over Álvarez, thwarting the Mexican famous person’s try and win a world title in a fifth division. Bivol defended his WBA mild heavyweight title and picked up the IBO belt in three subsequent victories earlier than shedding each to Beterbiev.
READ: Bivol stuns Canelo Alvarez to retain mild heavyweight belt
Beterbiev, a 40-year-old Russian based mostly in Montreal, had held at the least one mild heavyweight title belt since 2017.
On the undercard in Riyadh, New Zealand’s Joseph Parker stopped Martin Bakole within the second spherical to win the WBO interim heavyweight title. Bakole, who took the combat two days in the past after Daniel Dubois fell sick, was straightforward work for the 33-year-old Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) in his sixth consecutive victory.
Shakur Stevenson additionally retained his WBC light-weight title with a stoppage of late substitute Josh Padley, who gave a recreation effort earlier than his nook threw within the towel following three knockdowns within the ninth spherical.
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Stevenson (23-0, 11 KOs) was in management from the opening spherical, however the American did little to silence the critics who declare he lacks a ending intuition earlier than lastly securing a stoppage.