Dmitry Bivol avenged his previous defeat to Artur Beterbiev, securing a victory by majority decision in their highly anticipated rematch at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The bout took place 133 days after Beterbiev had narrowly defeated Bivol in October to claim the light heavyweight championship. Bivol's triumph on this occasion not only restored his status as a champion but also showcased his tactical prowess and determination.
In the rematch, Bivol made a key adjustment by opting to stand flat-footed rather than using constant movement around the ring. This strategic change allowed him to deliver precision punches that effectively halted many of Beterbiev's advances. Bivol's approach appeared more relaxed compared to their first encounter, where he was bested by Beterbiev in a close majority decision.
Throughout the fight, Bivol demonstrated superior skill, outlanding Beterbiev in nine of the 12 rounds. He landed a total of 170 punches compared to Beterbiev's 123. As the match progressed into the later rounds, Beterbiev's body punching began to take its toll on Bivol. Despite this, Bivol capitalized on Beterbiev's diminishing punch output and continued to land clean combination punches, particularly in the center of the ring.
Two judges scored the bout in favor of Bivol, with scores of 116-112 and 115-113, while the third judge scored it a draw at 114-114. The rounds were fiercely contested, with Beterbiev delivering a stunning right hand late in the 12th round, opening a cut over Bivol's left eye. However, Bivol deftly stymied Beterbiev's final attempts by clinching and avoiding further damage.
Reflecting on his performance, Beterbiev commented,
"I don't want to talk about the decision."
Nevertheless, he acknowledged his own efforts with a sense of pride.
"I was better [this time]. I was pushing myself more, I was more confident, I was lighter and I just wanted to win so much today."
The match not only settled the score between these two formidable fighters but also hinted at the possibility of a trilogy. Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, was seen ringside holding three fingers in the air following the decision, an apparent signal of a potential third bout.
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