Bivol Claims Undisputed Light Heavyweight Title After Seizing Five Belts from Beterbiev in Historic Rematch at Riyadh Season
In the presence of HE Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), Russian boxer Dmitry Bivol seized five championship belts from his Canadian rival Artur Beterbiev, becoming the undisputed world champion in the light heavyweight division. This historic rematch, 'The Last Crescendo,' took place at the ANB Arena as part of Riyadh Season.
The main event, watched by boxing fans worldwide, began with the playing of the Saudi Royal Anthem before the fierce battle between the two fighters commenced. Bivol delivered an impressive performance in the first two rounds, but Beterbiev came back strong in the third, landing several powerful punches that gave him an advantage in the middle rounds.
However, in the ninth round, Bivol staged a major comeback, asserting dominance and securing decisive points, leading the judges to grant him the victory by majority decision. With this win, the focus now shifts to a potential third fight, which would serve as the ultimate decider after both fighters have claimed one victory each.
This defeat marks the first in Beterbiev's career, while Bivol demonstrated significant growth from his previous loss, securing the five major titles: the WBA (World Boxing Association), WBC (World Boxing Council), IBF (International Boxing Federation), WBO (World Boxing Organization), and The Ring Championship.
Following his triumph, Bivol expressed his satisfaction, stating: 'After my loss, I felt more at ease and didn't put as much pressure on myself as I did in the previous fight. I focused solely on boxing from round one to round twelve, knowing I had done enough to secure the win.'
When asked about the difference between this fight and their previous encounter, he responded: 'The difference was in my performance. I was better, I pushed myself harder, I was more confident, lighter on my feet, and I wanted the win badly today.'
Regarding his future plans, Bivol confirmed his readiness for any upcoming challenge but emphasized the need for some rest due to injuries sustained during training camp:
'I'm ready for any challenge in the future, but I need some rest. I suffered an injury last summer, and this time, I also had injuries and had to undergo treatment throughout my training camp. Now, I need time to recover before I return to the ring.'
The action-packed night began with a dominant victory for Saudi boxer Ziyad Al-Maiouf, who secured a well-earned win against Brazil's Jonatas de Oliveira in the welterweight division. After a strong performance, he claimed victory by unanimous decision after six rounds, proving his superiority with ease.
In the super featherweight division, Saudi boxer Mohammed Al-Aql delivered an outstanding display against Argentina's Angel Gomez, controlling the fight and winning by unanimous decision after six rounds, adding another victory to his record.
In a thrilling bout, Callum Smith of the UK captured the WBO Interim Light Heavyweight Title after a hard-fought battle against Joshua Buatsi. Smith displayed remarkable resilience despite suffering a bloody facial injury, ultimately securing a unanimous decision victory.
Germany's Agit Kabayel claimed the WBC Interim Heavyweight Title after knocking out China's Zhilei Zhang in the sixth round. The bout was characterized by a lack of stamina from both fighters before Kabayel delivered a decisive knockout punch, leaving Zhang unable to recover. Undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk personally handed Kabayel the championship belt as he celebrated his 26th career win.
In the WBC Super Welterweight Interim Title fight, American Vergil Ortiz Jr. dominated Uzbekistan's Israil Madrimov, winning by unanimous decision in an impressive performance that cemented his place in the division.
The WBC Middleweight World Title fight between Carlos Adames from the Dominican Republic and Britain's Hamzah Sheeraz ended in a split draw, allowing Adames to retain his title in a contest that lacked a clear winner.
In the lightweight division, American Shakur Stevenson delivered a masterclass performance against Britain's Josh Padley, knocking him down three times before Padley opted to retire in the ninth round. With this victory, Stevenson successfully defended his WBC Lightweight World Title, reaffirming his dominance in the division.
New Zealand's Joseph Parker delivered a crushing victory against Martin Bakole of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who stepped in as a last-minute replacement for Daniel Dubois just 48 hours before the fight due to Dubois falling ill. The referee stopped the fight in the second round after Parker landed a knockout blow that left Bakole unable to continue. With this win, Parker retained the WBO Interim Heavyweight Title.
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