Artur Beterbiev defeats Dmitry Bivol, making history as the first undefeated heavyweight champion of the four-belt era
In the end, it was aggressive over quickness, constant pressure over deft ability.
In the end, the judges favored pressure, giving Artur Beterbiev a majority decision over Dmitry Bivol on Saturday at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The first decision victory of Beterbiev’s professional career made the 39-year-old veteran the first undisputed light heavyweight world champion in a four-belt era and earned him the vacant Ring Magazine 175-pound title.
Judge Glenn Feldman scored 115-113 and Pawel Kardyni 116-112 in favor of Beterbiev and judge Manuel Palomo overturned the score 114-114.
“I didn’t do well today, I wanted to beat more (better) boxers today, but I will do better one day,” said Beterbiev, who won the fight holding the WBC/WBO/IBF 175kg belt. Ring’s No. 1 contender. 1. “It was a little uncomfortable. Yes, it was a tough fight. Dmitry is a world champion, too. You have good skills, maybe better than me. But today Allah has chosen me.
“When we fight, we always change something. I wanted to punch him. I didn’t slow him down, because I didn’t give one big punch. “
It was the first time that Beterbiev (21-0, 20 knockouts) had completed 12 rounds, while it was the first professional loss for Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs).
“I’m a hero and I have to do everything the right way,” said a kind Bivol in defeat. “I have no explanation, because it will look like an excuse. I don’t know. I have done my duty. It’s just a judge’s opinion. He won. That’s all I could say. He was strong, very strong.
“I would love to do it again. It is my dream to be unopposed.”
CODES. @ABeterbiev takes the Decision of the Many 👑 pic.twitter.com/Cg9vNbQ7D8
– Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) October 12, 2024
According to CompuBox statistics, Bivol connected on 50% of his power punches, while Beterbiev only landed 29% of his. Bivol landed 33 power punches in the first six rounds, while Beterbiev landed 23. Beterbiev turned the tide over the last six rounds by landing 67 powerful punches to Bivol’s 51.
In the 11th and 12th rounds, Beterbiev landed 29 power punches, while Bivol landed 19. Fighters were separated by four or fewer ties in eight of the 12 rounds fought, according to CompuBox.
Bivol, who entered the fight as a WBA light heavyweight, landed 141 of 417 punches to Beterbiev’s 137 of 682.
Beterbiev became the first undisputed light heavyweight champion of the world since Roy Jones Jr. defeating Reggie Johnson in 1999.
In the opening round, both fighters appeared to be struggling, throwing punches, checking jabs. It was Bivol who opened first, where Bivol quickly landed a one-two combo. The action started in the last minute, although Bivol blocked Beterbiev’s pressure.
In the second, Bivol used his jab when Beterbiev tried to go inside. It was Bivol who fired the heavy shot. Beterbiev controlled the center of the ring, acting as the attacker. When Beterbiev tried to walk down Bivol, Bivol was nowhere to be found, avoiding Beterbiev’s wrath.
With 1:43 left in the third, Bivol nailed Beterbiev with a quick counter combination, slightly above Beterbiev’s jab. Of the three, Bivol defeated Beterbiev 38-23.
Bivol connected on a straight right with 1:10 left in the fifth. Beterbiev made it fun, when he connected with a jab, and landed a right to the body, and for a moment, Bivol was backing away.
As the sixth opened, Beterbiev landed a hard right. Again, Beterbiev played the role of a stalker. Bivol switched roles briefly as the round approached the two-minute mark. Beterbiev quickly changed that, standing in the middle of the ring and tapping with his jab.
With 1:02 left, Bivol didn’t go off the ropes, went back to the center of the ring, and landed a counter left to the head. Beterbiev retaliated with a body shot.
Between the sixth and seventh, Beterbiev’s trainer Marc Ramsey urged him to stay in front of Bivol, insisting on keeping warm. Beterbiev averaged four power shots per round, well below his average of 13 power shots per round.
In the sixth, Bivol still beat Beterbiev, 68-48.
With 1:47 left in the seventh, Bivol landed a combination, breaking through Beterbiev’s big guard. With just over a minute left in the round, Bivol appeared to hurt Beterbiev with a left combination, followed by another right counter, left, right.
Artur Beterbiev’s late case was awarded a majority decision over Dmitry Bivol in an undisputed light heavyweight contest.
Bivol had been backing up Beterbiev, and it looks like Bivol may have let himself out, because Beterbiev turned the tables and in the last 30 seconds, Beterbiev was beating Bivol against the ropes.
In the eighth round, Bivol connected with a right to the body, Beterbiev responded a few seconds later with a right. Bivol’s left eye seemed to be swelling. At the end of the battle, Bivol’s left eye will be confused.
In the closing seconds of the eighth, Beterbiev popped Bivol with a right, followed by a right uppercut. Bivol tried to steal the round with a flurry of punches in the last 10 seconds to no avail, hitting Beterbiev’s gloves more than Beterbiev.
With 2:37 left in the ninth, Bivol continued the performance, with a physical right. Bivol connected with a left hook about a minute later. He kept looking for a left hook over Beterbiev’s jab.
With 55 seconds left in the round, Bivol landed a left to Beterbiev’s body. Bivol opened up more with 29 seconds left in the round, hitting Beterbiev with a clinch. All Beterbiev seemed to be able to do was stand there and try to block punches.
Through nine rounds, Bivol connected with 58 powerful shots to Beterbiev’s 52, and outshot Beterbiev with body shots, 20-18.
By the 10th, Bivol was occupying the center of the ring, with Beterbiev circling him. With 47 seconds left, Bivol attacked, and Beterbiev’s head exploded with a combination. Beterbiev tried to hold Bivol on the ropes, but Bivol’s high leg wouldn’t allow it.
Possibly sensing he was in trouble, Beterbiev stormed out in the 11th. At 2:21, Bivol was timing Beterbiev, catching him with a counter over Beterbiev’s jab. With 1:49 left, Beterbiev digs Bivol with a right to the body. After the middle point of the 11th, Bivol was forced to tie up Beterbiev, who was coming, willing to connect wherever he could.
Bivol had his hands up and was taking the gun. It was Beterbiev’s best round of the fight. He dominated for almost three minutes from start to finish. A right to the body, followed by a right uppercut had Bivol with his hands up, drawing punishment.
Going into the final round, Bivol edged Beterbiev 128-122. Bivol seemed to slow down in the final rounds. Beterbiev’s aggressiveness was paying dividends. He was entering Bivol’s high guard. Bivol, possibly thinking he was ahead, was taking more punishment. Beterbiev went down on Bivol, and Bivol tried to block Beterbiev’s last charge.
As the final bell rang, Bivol took a deep breath, glad to finally be standing.
Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter who has worked for Ring Magazine/RingTV.com since October 1997 and is president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.
Follow @JSantoliquito [twitter.com]
