The path of a star: how Bivol became an absolute world champion

Russian Dmitry Bivol defeated his compatriot Artur Beterbiev in a boxing fight in Riyadh. The fight lasted all 12 rounds and ended with Bivol winning by judges' decision (114-114, 116-112, 115-113). Thus, Bivol won the title of absolute world champion in the light heavyweight division. The first fight between the Russian boxers took place in October 2024. Then Beterbiev won by referee's decision. Now, we are likely to see the third fight of this confrontation. It may take place before the end of 2025.

3:0 в 3:3

On February 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a rematch between two Russian top boxers took place: absolute world champion in the light heavyweight division Artur Beterbiev and former WBA Super titleholder Dmitry Bivol. Their first meeting determined the first absolute champion from Russia in the weight category, but the ambiguous outcome caused a controversy, thanks to which the rematch took place four months later.

The organization of the first fight was complicated: for a long time the parties could not agree. When the date was set for June 1, 2024, the fight had to be postponed due to Arthur's injury. While he was recovering, Dmitry had another fight and won. In the end, the fighters were brought together in the ring on October 12 in Riyadh. In a tense 12-round meeting, Beterbiev won by a majority vote of the judges: one counted 116:112 in his favor, the second - 115:113, and the third recorded a draw 114:114.

Bivol's team did not agree with this decision, especially with the verdict of the Polish judge, who gave eight rounds to Artur. According to Dmitry's trainer Gennady Mashyanov, his ward deserved to win with a score of 8-4. Fans and experts were divided in their opinions, but Bivol himself accepted the defeat with dignity. One of those who considered Dmitry the winner was also the organizer of Turki Al Al-Sheikh, thanks to whom the rematch became possible.

The show in Riyadh as always did not go according to the planned timing. The rematch began at two o'clock in the morning, although it was originally planned that the boxers would start the fight closer to an hour. In the first round Dmitry was punching more often and was quite accurate, sometimes he used good power combinations, to which Artur tried to respond. Bivol was investing in his punches, but at the end of the first round he missed some significant punches himself. Despite this, the first cut should probably be given to Dmitry.

In the second round, Beterbiev continued to advance, but Bivol responded confidently. Artur was building momentum, trying to break Dmitry's block, and sometimes he was able to do so. Bivol was actively moving, which helped him catch Beterbiev and deliver punches. Dmitry's counterpunches allowed him to take that lead as well - it looked like he led 2-0.

In the third round Artur became even more active, and at the start of the period Dmitry was a little slowed down by a hail of punches from his opponent. Beterbiev continued to press, but Bivol adjusted and began to counterattack well again. Dmitry worked serially, and he was able to do almost everything - at one point his activity forced his opponent to go into a deep defense, but before the gong, the boxers clashed. The winner of this round was Bivol again - due to the number of punches thrown.

Beterbiev did not slow down in pace - the beginning of the fourth round again passed under his pressure. After the opening spurt, Bivol started to be more active, but it was as if he decided to rest a bit in this segment. Artur was hitting well and even knocked his opponent down slightly, but there was no knockdown. Beterbiev was hitting more often and more accurately - this three-minute period is definitely going to him.

The fifth round started again with pressure from Artur, but Dmitry managed to keep his distance and shoot back. At the same time Bivol was not active at all - Beterbiev did a great job, often hitting on the head and by the sum of his actions he took one more round.

Sixth round - again active Artur and Dmitry working as the second number. Beterbiev attacked luxuriously and seemed to turn the tide of the fight. Beterbiev often hit the block, but Bivol didn't respond well enough to give him the round. At the end of the period he stepped up a bit, but Beterbiev took the three-minute lead again, so 3:0 turned into 3:3.

A dream come true

Exactly half of the fight passed, and in the seventh round Bivol became more active. Beterbiev continued to operate in his own style, but Dmitry was working well in the second, responding to his opponent's attacks. Bivol wasn't moving forward, but his shots were enough to give him the lead.

Beterbiev kept the pace up in the eighth round, but Bivol was responding well. Dmitriy was back on the outside, and he was able to throw a lot of good combinations. Dmitry was moving well, although he was missing from Artur with his rare accentuated punches, of which there were more as the round ended. Bivol seemed to take the end, and with it the whole round.

In the ninth, Beterbiev and Bivol seemed to have chosen the same tactics - both were hitting hard and in series, but Dmitry was diluting the series with single jabs. Artur tried a body shot, but his opponent was more successful, and this three-minute round went to him again.

The tenth round started cautiously on the part of both boxers. If the score at the end of nine rounds is really 6:3 in Bivol's favor, Beterbiev will need to win all three final three minutes in order not to lose, but to end in a draw. Artur did not do everything well, his pressing did not work, Dmitry fought back well with series of punches and did not let himself get hit often - it looks like the round is behind him again.

Dmitry's trainer Gennady Mashyanov told him in the corner to step up, and Bivol really went forward. Artur intercepted the initiative, but not for long - his opponent successfully caught him. After the end of the round it looked like only a knockout would bring Beterbiev victory.

The final round started again with pressure from Beterbiev, but Bivol didn't let himself get nailed to the ropes and responded with hard series of punches. Artur was moving forward, Dmitry tried to keep his distance, and when they got close he tried to land at least one more punch than his opponent.

After the gong the boxers hugged each other - the only thing left was to know the verdict of the judges. The result was unexpected - 114:114, 116:112, 115:113. By the decision of the majority of judges Dmitry Bivol took the fight and became the new absolute world champion.

- I'm very happy that I finally got a rematch, got my belt back, earned the other belts, became the absolute champion," Bivol told Russian journalists. - Because "former champion", when they called me this week here, I didn't like it very much, actually. But when I now signed the gloves and wrote Undisputed, it was much more pleasant. And how I felt... I felt like I won. When I heard that it was a draw, I thought: well, nothing depends on us. Thank God I won in the end. It's a great feeling, because I've been going for it my whole career. When I first came to professional boxing, my goal was to become an absolute world champion. And I achieved it. I mean systematically - yes, there were certain shocks, difficulties, all kinds of different surgeries, there were no fights for a year and a half. But in the end everything worked out thanks to our team and hard work.

The end of 2025

Now it looks like we're looking forward to the third fight between Dmitry and Arthur.

- What did we talk about after the fight? I went up to Artur and said that I was grateful for the fight, I respect him, - continued Bivol. - When I was in the national team, I always looked at him as a leader, and I thank him for these fights. He said: yes, it's sport, it happens, you're good too. We shook hands. Then some time passed, Arthur came up to the team, shook his fist and said: "We won't shake hands, because the third fight is waiting for us." No problem. I'm ready for any challenge in the future, but now I want to rest a bit. I had injuries, I need to heal, so I need rest.

Beterbiev also spoke out on the subject.

- I don't want to talk about the decision, congratulations to Bivol," Beterbiev told reporters. - In the first fight I won, here - no. I think this fight was better than the first, now it's my time to make a kambak. The third fight? It does not depend on me, but, of course, I would like it.

As Sport-Express columnist Andrei Bazdrev noted, both we and Bivol and Beterbiev need a rest from this confrontation.

- Trilogy? Perhaps, when both of them will fight someone else, and if Artur doesn't decide that after 40 it's getting a bit hard to box and, more importantly, to have a full-fledged heavy camp for training," Bazdrev argues. - For now we can fix it: Bivol and Beterbiev have made Russian boxing important and noticeable in the world, and if for some reason they had not come out against each other, the status and importance of each on a historical scale could have been disputed. And now you can't, both are absolute world champions, one former, the other current, and everyone else in the division is a step, or even two, lower. And no one will say that the titles were bought with some Russian petrodollars or gas money, because the money is Saudi. It's as if everything is fair and there are no more questions. That's amazing for boxing, isn't it?

Promoter Bob Arum told TASS that the event should take place before the end of 2025.