Dmitry Bivol achieved redemption on Saturday night, successfully avenging his defeat from October 2024 against Artur Beterbiev by claiming victory through a majority decision. This decisive match took place at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, crowning Bivol as the undisputed light heavyweight champion.

The rematch came just 133 days after Beterbiev’s narrow victory by majority decision and lived up to the excitement of their first bout. Both boxers had faced off in a total of 36 minutes previously, allowing Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) and Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) to inject their respective strategies into this highly anticipated sequel. In a tactical shift, Bivol chose to stand more firmly against Beterbiev’s advances, opting for a stable stance instead of his usual movement, which helped him fire off effective jabs and keep Beterbiev’s power strikes at bay.

Despite Bivol’s impressive start, Beterbiev, at 40 years old, continued to exert pressure, pushing Bivol into a fast-paced battle. Bivol began to find success landing combinations that broke through Beterbiev’s defense. Although Bivol was increasingly active, the relentless body shots from Beterbiev started to take a toll on him. In the fifth round, Beterbiev intensified his assault, targeting both Bivol’s body and head, showcasing his power and pushing Bivol around the ring.

However, Bivol, at 34, regained his composure during the seventh round, delivering combinations from his jab. A swift left hook in the eighth round caused Beterbiev to reassess his attacking strategy. As Beterbiev showed signs of fatigue, Bivol capitalized by landing precise punches in the center of the ring, pulling away as the fight progressed.

In the championship rounds, Bivol appeared more energized, thwarting Beterbiev’s attempts to regain control. Unlike their first encounter, where Bivol seemed to let the fight slip away, he remained active and assertive until the end. In a desperate final push, Beterbiev landed a right hand that hurt Bivol late in the 12th round, leaving a cut above his left eye. Yet, Bivol effectively prevented further damage by clinching, demonstrating his tactical awareness.

The judges scored the bout in favor of Bivol with a tally of 116-112, 115-113, and 114-114.

In other notable results from the event, Joseph Parker secured a second-round TKO victory over Martin Bakole, earning the WBO heavyweight interim title. Additionally, Shakur Stevenson retained his WBC lightweight title with a ninth-round TKO against Josh Padley.

Catch the complete results and detailed breakdown of each round from the Riyadh event.