Boxing results: BIVOL AVENNES LOSS, DEPARTMENT BETTERBIV IN REMATCH IN KINGDOM ARENA

Artur Betterbiev (21-1, 20 COs) finally tasted defeat for the first time and lost its undisputed light heavyweight championship to Dmitri Biblical (24-1, 12 COs) in their re-broadcast Saturday night in the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh

Biblical (34) used his excellent hand speed, combination punch and movement to box his way to a decision. Betterbiev had his moments and landed hard bumps when he could reach Biblical, but he couldn’t cut the ring well enough. It was a fight that probably should have been a draw, but it works well to go for Biblical. At least the fans and promoter Eddie Hearn, who complained about the previous fight, cannot make a fuss. They achieved their victory.

The scores

114-114
116-112: BIVOL
115-113: BIVOL

The battle did not have drama, mostly where Bisvol moves around the ring, throws quick shots and then tied better. It would be more interesting to fans to look at whether biblical stood and engaged, but it is not his style. He is a car. All the movement that used Bisvol made it impossible for betterbiev to get its shots off. When he biblical right in front of him, he didn’t throw enough.

He just waited until the perfect time, and Biblical could get his shots off. In the twelfth, Betterbiev abandoned his cautious style and blew Biblical in that round. If he had fought in the other rounds, it would have been a one -sided fight. Biblical would probably have been knocked out because his left eye was just confused from that round. He looked in distress when the fight ended.

This battle would have been better on the bottom map under the Vergil Ortiz Jr. Vs. Israil Madrimov Clash. It was easily the best of the fights on tonight’s main card. The co-fight between Joseph Parker, an obese Martin Bakole, was a horrible mismatch.

With the victory, Biblical and Betterbiev is likely to meet in a trilogy. It is on Turki Alalshikh to decide whether to go in that direction. After the dull rematch of tonight, it would be better for the box public if Turki went in a different direction and David Benavidez biblical for his four titles. It is clear that Biblical promoter, Eddie Hearn, is likely to try to convince Turki to set aside the trilogy with betterbiev to focus on Benavidez or Canelo Alvarez.

Mexican superstar Canelo is fighting Terence Crawford next year, so he is not a viable option this year until Turki can negotiate a December battle involving Bivolution.