Dmitry Bivol produced a majestic display to defeat Artur Beterbiev for the undisputed light-heavyweight titles in a classic rematch four months after their first fight for all the major belts.
After Beterbiev won a controversial decision against Bivol last year, Bivol reversed the decision, this time with a majority decision to become the undisputed light-heavyweight king.
The main event followed a heavyweight war between Joseph Parker and late stand-in Martin Bakole. with the Kiwi dispatching his rival with a crushing second-round knockout.
A stacked undercard saw big wins for Callum Smith Shakur Stevenson, Agit Kabayel and Vergil Ortiz Jr.
Follow live reaction and all the results from Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 below:
Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 and Parker vs Bakole
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AND THE NEW! Bivol defeats Beterbiev by MD to seize undisputed light-heavyweight world titles
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Joseph Parker smashes Martin Bakole in two rounds following Daniel Dubois withdrawal after illness
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Stevenson eventually stops late-notice underdog Padley to stay champion
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Sheeraz handed lucky draw to stay unbeaten as Adames keeps WBC middleweight strap
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Ortiz Jr outpoints Madrimov to keep WBC interim super-welterweight title
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Kabayel climbs off canvas to stop Zhang and win vacant WBC interim heavyweight title
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Smith wins firefight to hand Buatsi his first loss and take WBO interim light-heavyweight belt
Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 official scorecards: Did judges get it right in undisputed rematch?
11:02 , Alex Pattle
The scorecards in last night’s rematch read 114-114, 116-112, 115-113, with the latter two in Bivol’s favour, but was that the correct ruling?
In the article below are the official, round-by-round scorecards from the judges, followed by a detailed breakdown of how Indy Sport scored the bout…
Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 official scorecards: Did the judges get it right?
Dmitry Bivol discusses vengeance against Artur Beterbiev
09:56 , Alex Pattle
Respect between two great rivals
07:00 , Alex Pattle
Dmitry Bivol holds all the gold…
06:00 , Alex Pattle
Beterbiev vs Bivol 3?
05:00 , Jack Rathborn
Adam Azim: “I can just watch these two fight over and over again.
“They should only ever fight each other. No point fighting any other light heavy weight – just keep fighting each other.”
Michael Conlan: “They are the perfect dance partner, Bivol rightful winner in my eyes but I want to see the trilogy!!!”
Inspired Dmitry Bivol avenges loss to Artur Beterbiev in undisputed title thriller
04:00 , Jack Rathborn
Dmitry Bivol avenged his loss to Artur Beterbiev with an inspired showing on Saturday, taking the undisputed light-heavyweight titles in a thriller in Riyadh.
In October, Beterbiev won a narrow, majority decision over Bivol in the same Saudi city, unifying all the belts and handing Bivol his first professional loss. On Saturday, Bivol flipped the script, winning a majority decision against his fellow part-Russian, who had never before been beaten.
Bivol’s victory saw him go one better than in October, when he became the first man to avoid a knockout by power-puncher Beterbiev. While the scorecards in that fight, an intriguing contest, were controversial, Bivol admitted afterwards that he would have to “add more” in a rematch.
Inspired Dmitry Bivol avenges loss to Artur Beterbiev in undisputed title thriller
Beterbiev vs Bivol 2: AI judge makes decision on undisputed rematch
03:00 , Jack Rathborn
Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 punch stats
02:00 , Jack Rathborn
Agit Kabayel calls for a world title shot against Oleksandr Usyk or Daniel Dubois
01:30 , Jack Rathborn
“My coach believed in me, it was a hard camp. Chinese power vs Kurdish power? Kurdish power wins.
“The fans will say it, let them say it, Kabayel is ready for a world title shot.”
Beterbiev vs Bivol 2: That winning moment!
01:00 , Jack Rathborn
Anthony Joshua calls for Callum Smith vs Anthony Yarde
00:30 , Jack Rathborn
“Between Callum and Buatsi, Callum is very humble, you don’t expect that dog in him, but he showed it tonight,” Joshua tells DAZN.
“He threw a lot of punches, I got a lot of respect for Buatsi, I hope he’ll be back. I said to him, Yarde fight, or Yarde vs Callum.”
Bivol gains revenge over Beterbiev to become undisputed champion
00:14 , Jack Rathborn
Anthony Joshua pinpoints new tactic from Dmitry Bivol
00:08 , Jack Rathborn
Joshua says: “He switched it around tactically, gave away the first four or so rounds, Usyk does it, then he came on strong in the latter rounds
“It’s a marathon, not a sprint, and he was there all the way through.”
Anthony Joshua calls for Bivol vs Beterbiev 3
00:06 , Jack Rathborn
“Take my money, I’m here for it, the first was great, the second was better,” Joshua tells DAZN
“They need the third fight to settle it. Bivol will want it again because he can.
“Beterbiev had to prove it, then he had to prove it again, but now he can come back and show his mettle.”
Beterbiev confirms plan to do third fight with Bivol
00:01 , Jack Rathborn
“I don’t want to talk about decision, just congratulations to Bivol,” says Beterbiev, with Turki Alalshikh.
“I think this fight better than first fight, we’ll see, but now my time to come back.
“Actually I don’t want second fight at all, wasn’t my choice, but we’ll do a third fight.”
Bivol eyes rest after victory over Beterbiev
Saturday 22 February 2025 23:58 , Jack Rathborn
“I’m ready for any challenge in the future, but I want a rest, I had an injury and I was using anti-inflammation,” adds the new champion.
“I’ll come back though.”
Bivol reacts to victory over Beterbiev
Saturday 22 February 2025 23:57 , Jack Rathborn
What was different, Dmitry?
“Just me, I was better, I pushed myself, I was more confident and I was lighter, I wanted to win so much today.
“I just told myself, he could start from the beginning to destruct me, to disturb me, it was hard to keep him on the distance, four rounds, then I saw he was also tired. I have to punch more clean punches.”
Bivol reacts to victory over Beterbiev
Saturday 22 February 2025 23:55 , Jack Rathborn
“I’m just so happy, I went through a lot the last years,” Bivol tells DAZN.
“I lost and I feel a little bit easier, I didn’t pressure too much this time like before. I was just wanting to work from the first round to the 12th and hope I did enough.
“I won this!”
Bivol defeats Beterbiev by MD to seize undisputed light-heavyweight world title
Saturday 22 February 2025 23:53 , Jack Rathborn
The winner by majority decision, 114-114, 116-112 and 115-113… Dmitry Bivol!
Bivol almost collapses in relief, Eddie Hearn screams in his ear in delight. He is wrapped in all the belts. It’s revenge for Bivol!
A grin from Beterbiev, disappointment, but these men will surely do it all over again for a third time.
Beterbiev v Bivol 2 goes to judges’ scorecards
Saturday 22 February 2025 23:52 , Jack Rathborn
“He closed it out,” Porter says of Beterbiev. “I got this fight a draw.”
Chris Mannix on DAZN has it 115-113 to Bivol on his unofficial scorecard.
Bivol produces sublime display in Beterbiev rematch as we go to the judges’ scorecards
Saturday 22 February 2025 23:47 , Jack Rathborn
Round 12
Bivol up on his feet, perhaps with a lead of three? We have him up 7-4.
Bivol moving now, Beterbiev chasing and throwing with more urgency, is it too late?
Bivol is cut! Beterbiev desperate and trying to force something, big shots raining in, Bivol trapped on the ropes, ties up the champion. The onslaught has arrived, but it’s surely too late…
Both men embrace, a nod, there’s immense respect after 24 rounds shared. Bivol the winner, according to the DAZN broadcast, we’ve got it to Bivol too, 115-113.
Beterbiev and Bivol combine to deliver classic rematch
Saturday 22 February 2025 23:45 , Jack Rathborn
Round 11
Chris Mannix on DAZN now has Bivol with a lead, 96-94, on the unofficial scorecard.
Punches thrown through 10 rounds: Beterbiev 578-450 Bivol.
Those long limbs from Bivol, he has that elasticity there, one-two and move. It’s proven a tidy formula tonight.
Eddie Hearn is roaring his fighter on, but suddenly the pair open up. Big right hand from Bivol. He’s starting to believe. One round away…
Beterbiev and Bivol combine to deliver classic rematch
Saturday 22 February 2025 23:41 , Jack Rathborn
Round 10
This one is getting cagey down the stretch, the championship rounds are here.
Now Beterbiev starting to look like he’s chasing Bivol around the ring, rather than closing it off.
A good jab from the champion, but a flurry from Bivol in the final three seconds. He’s surely on top now.
Beterbiev and Bivol combine to deliver classic rematch
Saturday 22 February 2025 23:37 , Jack Rathborn
Round 9
Mannix has this one even at 4-4. The flow to this fight has been brilliant, no need to break them up.
Bivol ducks under a big right from Beterbiev, magical.
Side to side, one-two, side to side, one-two… It’s a joy to watch Bivol like this. Beterbiev struggling to pin him down now. But there was a crushing body shot from Beterbiev.
Bivol rediscovers rhythm against Beterbiev
Saturday 22 February 2025 23:32 , Jack Rathborn
Round 8
Jab, left hook from Bivol, tidy work from the outside.
That punch, through seven rounds:
Thrown: 257-206
Landed: 29-57
Bouncing now and throwing hooks, now the jab has various points of attack once more, crisp shots.
That right from Beterbiev a reminder of the danger he poses. But much better from the challenger, who might have opened up a gap if the judges side with him in those close rounds. 5-3.
Beterbiev pegged back by Bivol in rematch?
Saturday 22 February 2025 23:30 , Jack Rathborn
Round 7
Porter has it 4-2 to Beterbiev, but there have been a couple of close rounds.
Bivol’s corner massaged his legs between rounds, he’ll need them to remain springy as this fight reaches the championship rounds.
The pace has dipped a little, Bivol now waiting to counter, rather than trying to break down Beterbiev. A closer round here. Bivol might’ve nicked it.
Beterbiev seizes control over Bivol as half-way stage approaches
Saturday 22 February 2025 23:25 , Jack Rathborn
Round 6
A 10th world title defence for Beterbiev… That was real volume from the champion in the fifth, he threw 76 punches to 31 from Bivol, landing 21 to the challenger’s 11.
Darren Barker says Beterbiev was on a treadmill in…
