Bivol Reclaims His Crown
In a thrilling rematch, Dmitry Bivol showed grit and skill as he secured a majority decision victory over Artur Beterbiev to reclaim the light heavyweight titles. The judges scored the fight 115-113, 116-112, and 114-114, underscoring the competitive nature of the bout. Bivol's triumph marked a comeback, avenging a previous loss to Beterbiev. Leveraging improved output and defense, Bivol outlanded Beterbiev 170 to 121 as reported by CompuBox stats, demonstrating a strategic edge he lacked in their initial face-off.
The clash was highlighted by intense exchanges, with a significant moment in Round 12 when Beterbiev opened a cut on Bivol's left eye, prompting a surge in tension. Yet, Bivol maintained composure, favoring accuracy and consistent pressure, which swayed the judges. Despite the loss, Beterbiev graciously acknowledged Bivol's performance and hinted at the possibility of a trilogy, stating, 'Now, it's my time to come back.'
Action-Packed Undercard
The undercard featured electrifying performances, notably from Joseph Parker, who achieved a victory over Martin Bakole. The fight concluded in the second round when Bakole's corner stopped the contest, citing Bakole's deteriorating condition, hence awarding Parker a TKO win.
Meanwhile, Shakur Stevenson defended his WBC lightweight title as he stopped Josh Padley in the ninth round, despite coping with a hand injury that threatened to derail his efforts. His resilience and tactical superiority earned him a satisfying victory.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. also shined, securing a unanimous decision triumph over Israil Madrimov, with scores of 117-111, 115-113, and 115-113. In another engaging bout, Carlos Adames and Hamzah Sheeraz battled to a split decision draw, reading 114-115, 118-110, and 114-114, indicating a closely contested match.
Elsewhere on the card, victories were claimed by fighters such as Agit Kabayel and Callum Smith, who both left the ring with decisive wins via TKO and unanimous decision, respectively. Their performances added to an evening full of world-class boxing action.