Russian Dmitry Bivol avenged a previous defeat to take the undisputed light heavyweight world title from Artur Beterbiev on a majority points decision in an epic rematch in Saudi Arabia yesterday.
The judges scored the fight in Riyadh 114-114, 116-112 and 115-113.
The previous encounter in October last year, when both went toe-to-toe as unbeaten champions, ended with exactly the same score but to Russian-born Canadian Beterbiev who added the World Boxing Association belt to his World Boxing Council (WBC), World Boxing Organization (WBO) and IBF ones.
Photo: Reuters
This time Bivol, 34, was better on the night, moving up a gear and taking the fight to his bearded older opponent, 40, with determination and classy combinations.
The 1-1 outcome opens the way to an inevitable third clash between the two.
“Actually I didn’t want the second fight, it wasn’t my choice, but no problem. We’re going to do a third fight,” Beterbiev, who did not shake Bivol’s hand, said in the ring after the scores were announced.
Bivol said he was up for any challenge, but needed a rest after his exertions.
“I want to heal myself a little bit and come back,” said the Russian, who ended the fight with blood streaming from over his left eye.
“I didn’t have as much pressure like last time. I just wanted to work from the first round until the end of the 12th. I did enough and I won this,” he said. “I was better, I was pushing myself more, I was more confident, I was lighter and I just wanted to win so much today.”
Bivol had the better of his opponent over the first three rounds, but the champion found his rhythm in the fourth in a livelier fight than the first one, but still with little to separate the two.
At the final bell neither boxer could be sure of the outcome, both waiting for the scores to be read without celebrating in advance.
“I don’t want to talk about the decision, it’s tough. Congratulations to Bivol’s team,” said Beterbiev, who could claim the final round. “I thought this fight was better than the first fight, but we’ll see. Now is my time to come back.”
Earlier, three-time world champion Shakur Stevenson retained his WBC lightweight title after stopping stand-in Josh Padley, a British electrician who had three days to prepare for the fight, at the end of nine rounds.
Former WBO world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker stopped another late replacement Martin Bakole in two rounds in their WBO Interim bout.
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