Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2: Highlights and Fight Results as Bivol Claims Undisputed Title in Stunning Revenge!

Four months after a close loss to Artur Beterbiev, Dmitry Bivol knew he had to step up his game. On Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he did just that. Bivol faced Beterbiev again and scored a majority decision victory, ending with the judges’ scores of 114-114, 116-112, and 115-113. CBS Sports also had Bivol winning by 115-113.

At 34 years old, Bivol not only avenged his only defeat but also reclaimed his WBA title, along with the WBC, WBO, and IBF belts held by Beterbiev. Despite facing a strong mid-fight push from Beterbiev, Bivol maintained his composure and fought aggressively in the later rounds.

In their first match, Bivol had lost on similar scorecards, but this time, he outlanded Beterbiev significantly, landing 170 punches to Beterbiev’s 121, according to CompuBox. Bivol connected with nearly 40% of his power shots, showing better precision and control throughout the fight.

“These past years have been tough. I really pushed myself this time,” Bivol shared after the fight. He felt less pressure and focused on performing well from the first round to the last. This mindset helped him win back the belts he first earned in 2017.

During the latter half of the fight, Bivol seemed sharper and more energetic. He landed more punches than Beterbiev in five of the last six rounds. His strategy involved effective combinations and solid defense to counter Beterbiev’s aggressive body shots.

Bivol’s 170 punches landed set a new record for the most punches landed against Beterbiev in his career. He increased his offensive output by 11 punches per round from their previous meeting.

Beterbiev, who finished the match with swelling around his eyes, acknowledged Bivol’s victory. “I won’t comment on the decision,” Beterbiev said. “I just want to congratulate Bivol and his team.”

The match began with Bivol quickly establishing control through his jab. Beterbiev, known for starting slowly, picked up the pace between rounds four and six, pressuring Bivol with body shots and flurries of punches. Bivol had to adjust his strategy, realizing both fighters were reaching their limits. He stayed smart, focusing on clean punches to secure the win.

Bivol’s victory sets the stage for a possible trilogy fight, a topic raised by Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s general entertainment authority, who hinted at a third match by gesturing three fingers at ringside.

Beterbiev expressed his willingness for another fight: “While I didn’t ask for this rematch, we can consider a third.” Meanwhile, Bivol wants time to recover from a tough series of fights, mentioning past injuries he managed during training camp, emphasizing the need for healing before potentially facing Beterbiev again.

On the undercard, heavyweight Joseph Parker scored a second-round TKO against Martin Bakole, who stepped in on short notice, and Shakur Stevenson defended his WBC lightweight title, winning by ninth-round TKO over Josh Padley, who also filled in due to illness in his opponent.

Other fighters like Carlos Adames and Vergil Ortiz Jr. also had significant victories, making the event memorable for fans and competitors alike.