Dmitry Bivol got his revenge in Riyadh on Saturday, edging Artur Beterbiev by majority decision to become the undisputed king at 175 lbs. Their second meeting had shades of the first - tense early rounds, bursts of fierce exchanges, and a late push from Beterbiev - but this time the judges favored Bivol. He now returns the favor of handing Beterbiev his first professional defeat, avenging his own lone blemish.
A rubber match is the most straightforward path. Each man owns a win over the other, so a third fight would erase all doubt about who stands as the top dog in the light-heavyweight division. The hype for a trilogy could be enormous, likely landing on a major pay-per-view stage. Still, Bivol sounded noncommittal post-fight, mentioning lingering aches and the need to rest.
Watch Beterbiev Bivol 2 reactions from the ringside: Watch
Another compelling option involves unbeaten David Benavidez, who recently moved up from super middleweight after being bypassed repeatedly by Canelo Alvarez. Since making the jump to 175, Benavidez has posted notable wins over Oleksandr Gvozdyk and David Morrell. A clash between Bivol and Benavidez would offer fans a fresh matchup featuring two aggressive fighters - Benavidez’s high-volume approach versus Bivol’s disciplined technique.
At 34, Bivol says he wants some time off to heal nagging injuries, so fans may have to wait for clarity on his next step. The newfound undisputed champ finds himself in a luxurious position, holding all the belts and fielding offers from top contenders. Whether he opts for the Beterbiev trilogy or a showdown with “The Mexican Monster,” there’s no shortage of lucrative fights ahead for Dmitry Bivol.
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