Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev will finally share a ring tonight, as they meet in an undisputed title fight in Saudi Arabia.
The unbeaten light-heavyweights have orbited one another for some time, and they were due to clash in Riyadh in June, but Beterbiev sustained a knee injury that delayed the bout.
It has now arrived, however, with Beterbiev carrying the WBC, WBO and IBF belts into the Kingdom Arena, while 33-year-old Bivol reigns as WBA Super champion. Both boxers are pound-for-pound stars in the sport, with Beterbiev at No 6 in the Indy Sport rankings and Bivol at No 5.
Beterbiev, even at 39, is one of the most devastating punchers in all of boxing, having compiled a 20-0 record with 20 knockouts. Bivol, meanwhile, has gone 23-0 with 12 KOs as a slick mover, a fluid technician, and a volume puncher.
The contrast in styles should make for an intriguing match-up, and the fight caps off an impressive card: Chris Eubank Jr is in action before the main event, while heavyweights Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke meet in a rematch of one of the fights of the year: their bloody bout for the British title, which ended as a draw in March.
Follow live updates and results from Bivol vs Beterbiev and a stacked undercard, below:
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE
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Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev clash in undisputed title fight in Saudi Arabia
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Bivol holds WBA light-heavyweight belt; Beterbiev is WBC, WBO and IBF champion
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Both men are unbeaten and occupy spots on the Indy Sport pound-for-pound list
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Beterbiev’s record stands at stunning 20-0 with 20 KOs, while Bivol is 23-0 (12 KOs)
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Undercard features Chris Eubank Jr, viral star Ben Whittaker, and Wardley vs Clarke 2
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Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke drew in March, in a fight of the year contender
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Ben Whittaker vs Liam Cameron
18:36 , Alex Pattle
Whittaker is now on his stool in the corner, being asked if he wants to continue.
His leg is getting checked. He seems to be in some discomfort. Is it the leg, or a nerve issue from his back?
Some observers will feel like Whittaker is looking for a way out, but either way, the fight is going to the scorecards!
This could be very close. It was trending in Cameron’s direction, but did he do enough across those five rounds to get the win…?
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Ben Whittaker vs Liam Cameron
18:33 , Alex Pattle
Round five
Approaching the midway point of this 10-round fight.
Cameron is talking some trash to Whittaker when they’re clinching, it seems.
Whittaker is taken to the corner by the referee, after Cameron’s team complain about a low blow. The ref warns Whittaker that he’ll be deducted a point if he does it again.
Cameron is landing almost at will now, and… what’s this?!?! As the bell sounds, the fighters tumble over the top rope and onto the ring apron! I’ve never seen that before, except in WWE!
Cameron eventually stands, but Whittaker is still down!
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Ben Whittaker vs Liam Cameron
18:29 , Alex Pattle
Round four
The light-heavyweights trade jabs, before Cameron throws a one-two upstairs then a left hook to the body.
There’s some phone-booth fighting, with each man leaning on the other and unfurling body shots.
Lovely combination from Cameron now, mixing up targets – head and body. Cameron tries to fire back with a right hook, but he’s totally off-balance.
Don’t get me wrong, Whittaker is still boxing well, but he’s absorbed the most damage we’ve seen in his pro career so far. He’s tagged by two hooks upstairs, only partially blocking them.
“If you are what you say you are, a superstar…” The lyrics of “Superstar” by Lupe Fiasco ring around the arena. Are you listening, Ben?
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Ben Whittaker vs Liam Cameron
18:24 , Alex Pattle
Round three
Whittaker is starting to land with increasing frequency, and power, now. His right cross especially is getting through.
Those marks around Cameron’s eyes are worsening slightly, particularly on the left side.
But the underdog is still doing decent work here and there, using his experience and weight to get the most out of the clinches.
Two right hands from Cameron now! A hook and a straight. But Whittaker stays calm and comes back, forcing Cameron to the ropes and letting his hands go.
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Ben Whittaker vs Liam Cameron
18:20 , Alex Pattle
Round two
Cameron with some decent hooks at close range, as Whittaker struggles to clinch cleanly.
Nice counter cross by Whittaker, though. Great timing on that.
He’s also happy to flick gentle jabs at his opponent’s guard, perhaps lulling Cameron into a false sense of security.
Solid uppercut by Cameron! Now a right straight! Whittaker fires back with a rapid flurry to the body.
Good head movement by Whittaker and a little bit of showboating at last. Already, however, Cameron is offering Whittaker more of a test than most of the “Surgeon”’s opponents.
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Ben Whittaker vs Liam Cameron
18:16 , Alex Pattle
Round one
Olympic silver medalist Whittaker is 8-0 (5 KOs) as a pro, while Cameron is 23-6 (10 KOs).
Whittaker is known for his precise striking and his showboating. Already some of the former, none of the latter yet…
Whittaker is flicking out his orthodox jab, but he’s also waiting for Cameron to let his hands go, eyeing some counters.
The Britons tie up here and there. Cameron, after one clinch, catches Whittaker on the end of a jab.
Cameron – also standing orthodox, by the way – already looks marked up around his eyes, though. Some reddening, it looks like.
Whittaker with some longer combinations later in the round, more aggression now.
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Undercard begins!
18:05 , Alex Pattle
So, Mohammed Alakel beat Jesus Gonzalez via unanimous decision (40-36, 40-36, 40-36).
Next up, Britain’s Ben Whittaker against compatriot Liam Cameron at light-heavyweight!
The ring walks are upon us.
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Undercard begins!
17:30 , Alex Pattle
The first fight of the night, a lightweight bout between Mohammaed Alakel and Jesus Gonzalez, is scheduled to begin any moment now.
Our undercard coverage will start after that contest, when viral British star Ben Whittaker takes to the ring to box Liam Cameron!
Stay tuned…
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Frazer Clarke went through hell with Fabio Wardley – now he’s going back
17:00 , Alex Pattle
Another interview from this summer: Indy Sport spoke to Frazer Clarke about his rematch with Fabio Wardley on tonight’s undercard.
The pair’s first bout, at the O2 Arena in March, was a fight of the year contender – a bloody, draining, cinematic clash.
It ended as a draw, with Wardley retaining the British heavyweight title, and the unbeaten warriors meet again this evening.
Interview:
Frazer Clarke went through hell with Fabio Wardley – now he’s going back
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Eubank Jr and Conor Benn separated by security as run-in gets physical
16:40 , Alex Pattle
In other Eubank Jr news…
He and Conor Benn were separated by security during a run-in at a hotel on Thursday.
Eubank Jr will fight Kamil Szeremeta tonight, but Benn, whom Eubank Jr was due to face in 2022, drew his fellow Briton’s attention in Riyadh on Thursday.
Footage released on Friday showed Eubank Jr and Benn trading words at the main fighter hotel, with Benn shoving his rival and launching numerous expletives at him. Security kept the pair separated throughout.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, after the fight,” Benn said. “I’ll f***ing give it to you. Yeah, of course, mate. You’re f***ing lucky you’re fighting tomorrow.”
Benn then shoved Eubank Jr, who remained calm during the altercation. “I’ll f*** you up,” Benn continued. “Watch what happens, dead boy walking.”
Full story:
Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn separated by security during hotel run-in
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Chris Eubank Jr interview ahead of undercard fight
16:20 , Alex Pattle
Chris Eubank Jr’s life changed irreversibly in 2021, when his younger brother Sebastian died. That tragedy, jarringly set against the tranquil backdrop of a beach in Dubai, was far from the first in the Eubank fighting family. It not only left Chris Jr without a brother, but his legendary father with one son fewer, and Raheem – just one month old at the time – without a dad.
At least, at first. In the fallout of the 29-year-old Sebastian’s passing, Eubank Jr recognised a rare responsibility. “I took the role, I guess, of a father figure for Raheem,” he tells The Independent, sinking into a sofa in the corner of a boxing gym in his hometown of Brighton. “It opens your eyes to certain things. You experience certain emotions when you’re around kids that… I haven’t really had as part of my life, ever.
“He’s like my son,” Eubank Jr adds, before swiftly amending his statement. “He is my son.” It is uncannily similar to what Chris Sr said about his nephew Harlem last year, when Sr’s brother Simon died. Eubank Jr continues: “It’s a special feeling being around him, and it makes me think about having my own kid, giving him a brother, raising them together. It’s enjoying that new side of life.”
Full interview with Eubank Jr, conducted by Indy Sport at the end of this summer:
Chris Eubank Jr on his brother’s death: ‘I became a father figure to Raheem’
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Steve Bunce on Chris Eubank Jr’s latest move
16:00 , Alex Pattle
Indy Sport columnist Steve Bunce is on hand to preview Chris Eubank Jr’s fight on tonight’s undercard…
“Chris Eubank Jr has had a lot of time to think about where he is going and where he has been in the boxing business.
“Tonight, here in Riyadh, Eubank Jr will have his 37th fight when he meets Poland’s Kamil Szeremeta. It is all part of a much bigger plan, having accepted a unique responsibility outside the ring following the sudden death of his brother Sebastian.
“In recent weeks, the boxer has had a spectacular and very public row with his former promoters and has talked boldly of a series of fights to end his career.
“He is older, wiser and far from finished.”
Full article:
Chris Eubank Jr is not done yet and key change can land the fight everybody wants
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Saudi Arabia’s next bold move to revolutionise boxing
15:30 , Alex Pattle
The Saudis have made the biggest fights available on numerous channels, and now they are lowering pay-per-view prices. But do these new prices come at a different kind of cost?
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