In the end it was aggression over agility, constant pressure over agile skill.
In the end, the judges favored the pressure, awarding Artur Beterbiev a majority decision over Dmitri 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 the four-belt era and earned him the vacant Ring Magazine 175-pound title.
Judge Glenn Feldman’s 115-113 and Pawel Kardyni’s 116-112 scores in favor of Beterbiev overruled judge Manuel Palomo’s 114-114 tie.
“I didn’t do well today, I wanted to box more (better) today, but I will do better one day,” said the victorious Beterbiev, who entered the fight with the WBC/WBO/IBF 175-pound belts and was The Ring’s no. 1 contender. “It was a bit awkward. Of course, it was a tough battle. Dmitri is also a world champion. He has good skills, maybe better than me. But today Allah chose me.
“During the fight we always change something. I wanted to hit him. I didn’t slow him down because I didn’t land the one big punch.”
It was the first time Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) had completed 12 rounds, while it was the first professional loss for Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs).
“I’m a fighter and I have to do everything perfectly,” said a gracious Bivol in defeat. “I have no explanation because it would look like excuses. I don’t know. I did my job. This is just the opinion of the judges. He won. That’s what I could say. He was powerful, very powerful.
“I would like to do it again. It is my dream to be undisputed.”
THE COUNT CARDS. @ABeterbiev take the Majority Decision 👑 pic.twitter.com/Cg9vNbQ7D8
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) October 12, 2024
According to CompuBox stats, Bivol connected on 50% of his power punches, while Beterbiev landed just 29% of his. Bivol landed 33 power punches over the first six rounds, while Beterbiev landed 23. Beterbiev turned the tide over the last six rounds by landing 67 power punches to Bivol’s 51.
In rounds 11 and 12, Beterbiev landed 29 power punches, while Bivol landed 19. The fighters were separated by four or fewer ties in eight of the 12 rounds fought, according to CompuBox.
Bivol, who entered the fight as the WBA light heavyweight title holder, landed 141 of 417 total punches to Beterbiev’s 137 of 682.
Beterbiev became the first undisputed light heavyweight champion of the world since Roy Jones Jr. defeated Reggie Johnson in 1999.
In the opening round, both fighters looked tentative, tossed, jabbed. It was Bivol who opened up first, as Bivol landed a quick one-two combo. The action picked up in the final minute, although Bivol parried Beterbiev’s pressure.
In the second, Bivol used his jab as Beterbiev tried to enter. It was Bivol who landed the heavier shots. Beterbiev controlled the center of the ring and served as the aggressor. As Beterbiev tried to walk down on Bivol, Bivol was nowhere to be found, dodging Beterbiev’s aggression.
With 1:43 left in the third, Bivol nailed Beterbiev with a quick counter combination, just over Beterbiev’s jab. By three, Bivol beat Beterbiev 38-23.
Bivol connected with a straight right with 1:10 left in the fifth. Beterbiev made it interesting when he connected with a jab and landed a right to the body, and for a moment Bivol backed off.
As the sixth opened, Beterbiev landed a heavy right. Again Beterbiev played the role of the stalker. Bivol switched roles for a moment as the round approached the two minute mark. Beterbiev quickly changed that by standing in the middle of the ring and picking away with his jab.
With 1:02 left, Bivol stayed off the ropes and worked his way back into the center of the ring, landing a counter left to the head. Beterbiev countered with a body shot.
Between the sixth and seventh, Beterbiev’s trainer, Marc Ramsey, urged him to stay ahead of Bivol, stressed to keep the heat on. Beterbiev landed an average of four power punches per round, well below his average of 13 power punches per round.
By six, Bivol was still outscoring Beterbiev 68-48.
With 1:47 left in the seventh, Bivol landed a combination and broke through Beterbiev’s high guard. With just over a minute left in the round, Bivol looked to hurt Beterbiev with a right-left combination, followed by another right-left, right-left counter.
Artur Beterbiev’s late charge was awarded a majority decision over Dmitri Bivol for the undisputed light heavyweight championship.
Bivol backed up Beterbiev, and it looked like Bivol might have punched himself, as Beterbiev turned the tables and in the final 30 seconds, Beterbiev slammed Bivol into the ropes.
Midway through the eighth, Bivol connected with a right to the body, which Beterbiev answered with a right a few moments later. Bivol’s left eye appeared to be swollen on the eyebrow. By the end of the fight, Bivol’s left eye would be a mess.
In the closing seconds of the eighth, Beterbiev jumped Bivol with a right, followed by a right uppercut. Bivol tried to steal the round with a flurry of punches in the final 10 seconds to no avail, hitting Beterbiev’s gloves as Beterbiev.
With 2:37 left in the ninth, Bivol continued to work levels, with a right to the body. Bivol connected with a left hook about a minute later. He kept looking for the left corner 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 and hit Beterbiev in combination. All Beterbiev could do was stand there and try to parry the blows.
Through nine rounds, Bivol connected on 58 power shots with Beterbiev’s 52, and outshot Beterbiev in body shots 20-18.
In the 10th, Bivol held the center of the ring, with Beterbiev surrounding him. With 47 seconds left, Bivol attacked and cracked Beterbiev’s head with a combination. Beterbiev tried to catch Bivol on the ropes, but Bivol’s superior footwork wouldn’t allow it.
Beterbiev may have sensed that he was in trouble, and came out aggressively in the 11th. At 2:21, Bivol was timing Beterbiev and caught him with a counter right over Beterbiev’s jab. With 1:49 left, Beterbiev dug Bivol with a right to the body. After the midpoint of the 11th, Bivol was forced to pin down Beterbiev, who was on the move, willing to connect anywhere he could.
Bivol had his hands up and was taking shots. It was Beterbiev’s best round of the fight. He dominated the three minutes almost from start to finish. A right to the body, followed by a right uppercut, Bivol kept his hands up and absorbed the punishment.
Bivol entered the final round beating Beterbiev 128-122. Bivol seemed to slow down in the final rounds. Beterbiev’s aggression paid off. He penetrated Bivol’s high guard. Bivol, possibly thinking he was far ahead, dished out more punishment. Beterbiev walked away from Bivol, and Bivol tried to parry Beterbiev’s last charge.
As the final bell rang, Bivol breathed a huge sigh of relief, happy to stand in the end.
Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter who has worked for Ring Magazine/RingTV.com since October 1997 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.
Follow @JSantoliquito (twitter.com)
