Dmitry Bivol became the undisputed light heavyweight champion of the world after he outpointed Artur Beterbiev in another absorbing and magnificent contest of great technical skill and profound courage. Bivol, who narrowly lost a majority decision to the 40-year-old former champion just over four months ago, won the rematch and the sweetest redemption in the early hours of Sunday morning in Riyadh.
The scores were exactly the same as they had been in October – with one judge ruling it a 114-114 draw and the two other officials reaching verdicts of 116-112 and 115-113 – but the key difference was that the winning margins were announced in favour of the deserving Bivol.
Beterbiev and Bivol are two of the most undemonstrative men in boxing and they both prefer fighting to talking. It seemed appropriate that Bivol, wearing a shimmering silver tunic, walked fast to the ring, occasionally stretching out a glove to touch the hands of admiring spectators. Beterbiev cut a more solemn figure, dressed in a plain black T-shirt and black trunks, as he marched resolutely down the same walkway.
After he was introduced by Michael Buffer, in the venerable MC’s typical style of honeyed gravitas, Bivol raised an arm in salute. Beterbiev simply jogged on the spot before matching Bivol’s gesture when his name was hollered to the rafters.
But Bivol is a fighter of great class and composure and, in the third, he clipped Beterbiev with slick combinations, as bunches of punches flew from him. Beterbiev responded and pounded Bivol to the body at the bell. He maintained the pace of his attack in the fourth and Bivol was forced to back away and concentrate on defence and self-preservation. There was little time, or room, for Bivol to counter amid the increasingly dark and threatening storm brought by Beterbiev.