Bivol beats Berbetiev, becomes undisputed world champ

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Bivol beats Berbetiev, becomes undisputed world champ

Russia’s Dmitry Bivol has beaten Artur Beterbiev by majority decision to become boxing’s undisputed light heavyweight champion, claiming his rival’s four championship belts and avenging his first career loss four months ago.

Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) won Saturday night’s fight in Riyadh 116-112 and 115-113 on two scorecards, while the third judge had a 114-114 draw.

Russian-born Beterbiev (21-1), who took his first career loss, had won their first bout by a majority decision with the same three final scores.

Bivol, 34, turned the rematch in his favour in the middle rounds, showing off his punching precision and elusiveness.

He stayed away from 40-year-old Beterbiev’s power, which threatened to decide the bout early on, and scored with counterpunches while Beterbiev’s energy flagged.

Although Beterbiev stunned Bivol with a right hand that opened a cut above Bivol’s left eye in the 12th, Bivol hung on for the victory.

The main event in Riyadh was a rematch of the light heavyweights’ entertaining first title bout last October 12 at Kingdom Arena. Beterbiev won that narrow majority decision while going the distance for the first time in his career.

Bivol’s supporters decried the verdict that made Beterbiev the first undisputed light heavyweight champion in the four-belt era, and several statistical measures backed up their anger.

Bivol rose to stardom in 2022 with his impressive victory over Canelo Álvarez, thwarting the ******** superstar’s attempt to win a world title in a fifth division. Bivol defended his WBA light heavyweight title and picked up the IBO belt in three subsequent victories before losing both to Beterbiev.

Beterbiev had held at least one light heavyweight title belt since 2017.

On the undercard in Riyadh, New Zealand’s Joseph Parker stopped Martin Bakole in the second round to win the WBO interim heavyweight title.

Bakole, who took the fight two days ago after Daniel Dubois fell ill, was easy work for the 33-year-old Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) in his sixth consecutive victory.

Shakur Stevenson retained his WBC lightweight title with a stoppage of late replacement Josh Padley, who gave a game effort before his corner threw in the towel following three knockdowns in the ninth round.

Stevenson (23-0, 11 KOs) was in control from the opening round, but the American did little to silence the critics who claim he lacks a finishing instinct before finally securing a stoppage.

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