Beterbiev Vs. Bivol Rematch Set For February 22

December 3, 2024

2 months

Beterbiev Vs. Bivol Rematch Set For February 22

Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol will run things back in another Undisputed Light Heavyweight Championship clash on February 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Beterbiev won the first fight via a controversial majority decision to pick up Bivol’s WBA Title and become the best light heavyweight of his era. The decision divided the boxing community, with former world champions such as Carl Froch and Paulie Malignaggi feeling that Bivol should have won. Meanwhile, Teddy Atlas and Claressa Shields scored the fight in favor of Beterbiev. Eddie Hearn was unhappy with the scorecards, stating that he could not fathom why one judge would only give four rounds to Bivol.

“In one of the biggest fights of our generation, the most important fight of Dmitry Bivol’s life, you give him four rounds in that fight? It’s absolutely disgusting. You heard Beterbiev’s corner in the 10th round say ‘you have to knock him out to win this fight’.

“They stood, backed up to their corner – they knew Artur Beterbiev lost this fight. Top Rank [Bivol’s promoters] knew Artur Beterbiev lost this fight. “I’m absolutely baffled and disgusted by a scorecard of 116-112. That judge should never work again. Four rounds [to Bivol] in a fight of this magnitude is disgusting,” Hearn said

Beterbiev Vs. Bivol

It was the first loss of Bivol’s career, leaving question marks over whether he would bounce back. However, he has now been given an immediate opportunity to avenge the loss and become undisputed. Coming into the fight, Beterbiev will have more wear and tear on his body. In the first fight, he was 39 years old, as there were suggestions that he would not be able to keep up with Bivol if the latter managed to take it to the distance. Before the Bivol fight, Beterbiev had stopped all his opponents by knockout. Although Bivol made it to the final bell, Beterbiev’s late resurgence in the championship rounds was enough to sway the judges to give him the decision.

In chief support, Daniel Dubois will defend his IBF Heavyweight Title against Joseph Parker. Dubois became the champion initially after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the IBF Heavyweight Title as Dubois was elevated from his interim status. Dubois then faced Anthony Joshua in his last fight, beating him via a fifth-round stoppage to make the first successful defense of his belt.

He dropped Joshua four times in a comprehensive victory. Parker is also on the best run of form following his last two performances. He has victories over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang. The former WBO Heavyweight Champion now has the chance to become a two-time champion. The winner will put themselves in a position for undisputed once Tyson Fury faces Oleksandr Usyk in a rematch on December 21.