Four months removed from their instant classic in Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena, Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol returned to Saudi Arabia on Saturday for part two of their already-iconic feud inside the squared circle.
The first time around, Beterbiev came out on top, scoring a majority decision victory over Bivol to become the light heavyweight division’s first undisputed world champion in more than 20 years and the first-ever in the four-belt era.
Despite suffering the only loss of his career, Bivol was the first fighter to go the distance with Beterbiev and lobbied for an immediate rematch as soon as the razor-close scorecards were read. Beterbiev and his team were happy to oblige, giving us another chapter between two of boxing’s brightest stars.
Round 1
Both fighters get things started by pumping the jab. Bivol takes the center of the ring and offers a double jab to the defending champion. Beterbiev throws a shot to the body and follows it up with a double jab to the body of Bivol. Beterbiev starts to put on a little pressure and mix up his strikes. Bivol tags him with another jab as both fighters appear to be trying to conserve energy early. Bivol throws a left that gets blocked by Beterbiev.
Beterbiev lands a nice straight to the body followed by a right. Bivol tries to answer with a one-two combination that fails to get through Beterbiev’s guard just as the bell sounds.
Round 2
Beterbiev starts the round with a jab followed by a right hand. The fighters are starting to open up a body with Beterbiev lands a lead right the body of his opponent. Bivol sticks Beterbiev with a pair of jabs and Beterbiev comes right back with a three-punch combo. Bivol fires back with a left. Bivol connects with a right hand over the top of Beterbiev. Bivol continues to dance around the ropes as Beterbiev rips to the body with a right. Bivol ends the round with a solid right hand.
Round 3
Beterbiev comes out swinging big early and connects with a right. Beterbiev throws a double jab and Bivol responds with a thudding body shot. Beterbiev has once again got Bivol on his back foot, but Bivol digs his toes in and throws a three-punch combination to try and halt Beterbiev’s relentless pursuit. Beterbiev offers up a right hand that connects with the shoulder of Bivol.
Beterbiev sticks Bivol with a couple of jabs and a strong right hand. Bivol responds with a flurry of shots, but Beterbiev lands again with another looping right hand. Things are starting to heat up and Beterbiev is showing some damage above his right eye as he heads back to his corner.
Round 4
Beterbiev comes out and starts swinging once again, looking to land his overhand right. Bivol uses the jab to try and keep Beterbiev at bay. Bivol hasn’t offered much in the way of offense through the first minute as Beterbiev throws a couple of heavy right hands. Beterbiev appears to be in a good rhythm while Bivol is struggling to respond to Beterbiev’s power shots. Beterbiev throws a short right hand followed by a strong jab that puts Bivol on his bicycle.
Beterbiev throws a right and Bivol responds with a one-two to the body. With only seconds left in the round, both fighters let their hands go, but neither lands anything clean before the bell.
Round 5
Beterbiev is back on the front foot and throws another right. Beterbiev rips to the body of Bivol against the ropes and continues to pepper the challenger with strikes. Bivol has been reduced to only using his jab, targeting the head and body of Beterbiev.
Beterbiev jabs his way in and looks to land a right, but eats a nice counter from Bivol as we reach the final 30 seconds of the round. Beterbiev looks to finish the round strong, throwing right hands and landing a left to the body. Beterbiev closes the round with a couple of his rights getting through the guard of his opponent.
Round 6
Bivol lands a lunging right hand to open the round, but he quickly finds himself being pressured by Beterbiev. Bivol jabs his way back into the center of the ring and sticks Beterbiev with a left to the body. The crowd is chanting for Bivol as Beterbiev uncorks a right that gets blocked by the challenger. Beterbiev pressures Bivol to the ropes and throws a combination. Beterbiev is starting to take over the round, but Bivol fires back with a straight right.
Beterbiev throws a big right that misses the mark. Bivol connects with a double jab and lands a left to the body. Beterbiev comes right back, unleashing a combination as we reach the halfway point of the fight.
Round 7
Bivol continues to pump the jab and Beterbiev throws a right hook followed by a straight left that appears to connect. They trade jabs in the center of the ring before Beterbiev gets back on his front foot, pressuring Bivol near the ropes. Bivol is still utilizing the jab to create space for himself, but it’s Beterbiev who is more active and nearly connects with another nasty right hand. Bivol just gets out of the way in perhaps the tightest round of the fight yet.
With 30 seconds to go, Bivol opens up a big, but Beterbiev comes right back with a double jab-right hand combo as the bell sounds.
Round 8
Bivol jabs to the body. Beterbiev fires right back to the body before coming up top with an overhand right. Bivol lands with a solid right hand and goes back to the body. Bivol throws a one-two and quickly follows it up with a three-punch combo. It’s all Bivol through the first 90 seconds of the round as the challenger lands a pair of right hands.
Beterbiev is continuing to pressure but isn’t letting his hands go. Bivol lands another one-two. Beterbiev tries to respond with a left hand. Beterbiev throws a couple of jabs, but he’s not closing the distance the way he did early in the fight. Bivol lands a double jab and rips to the body that backs Beterbiev up. Bivol approaches and they end the round clinched up against the ropes.
Round 9
Beterbiev throws a couple of left jabs and follows it with a right to the body. Bivol dances around the ropes and Beterbiev throws a flurry of strikes. Bivol avoids taking any serious damage and fires right back with a combination of his own. After that exchange, it’s Beterbiev who is giving up ground, allowing Bivol to advance momentarily. Bivol lets Beterbiev retake control of the ring. Beterbiev throws a right and Bivol brilliantly ducks under before coming right back with a heavy combo.
Beterbiev is looking a bit labored as he tries to jab to the body. Bivol fires back with a body blow followed by a clean combination. Beterbiev tries to respond, landing a couple of digs to the body of Bivol. With the round winding down, Beterbiev tries to score some points, but it’s clear that the momentum is beginning to shift in Bivol’s favor as we go into the 10th round.
Round 10
Beterbiev is back in control of the ring and offering a couple of quick strikes. Bivol connects with a stiff left jab. Bivol lands a short right hand, but it looks like the challenger may be slowing down a bit as Beterbiev advances and barrels his way into range. Beterbiev jabs to the body and Bivol comes back with a right. Bivol offers up some solid bodywork. Beterbiev comes back with a three-punch combination.
A jab from Beterbiev gets through, but Bivol comes straight back with a one-two just before the bell.
Round 11
Beterbiev tries to come rolling in and Bivol lands a nice combination early. Beterbiev doubles up on the jab but gets stuck with a jab right back. Beterbiev is picking up the pace near the halfway point of the round, landing up top with a right and ripping to the body of Bivol.
Bivol offers up a jab but gets his head popped back with return fire from Beterbiev. With 30 seconds left in the round, both fighters are firing away, but it’s Beterbiev who is landing the power shots with his right hand. The round ends with Bivol and Beterbiev exchanging heavy strikes near the ropes.
Round 12
It’s Beterbiev who gets the striking started in the final round, but Bivol is swinging away with a flurry of combinations. Beterbiev throws a left-right as Bivol stays on his back foot and pumps the jab to keep the champ at range. Beterbiev has kept on his front foot as Bivol appears to be in cruise control with just over a minute to go. Bivol rips to the body and comes back up top, but Beterbiev eats it and keeps moving forward.
Beterbiev goes to the body and throws a big overhand right. Beterbiev is closing the distance and trying to land something big with the time ticking down. Beterbiev lands a right and they swing out as the remaining seconds come off the clock, bringing an end to another instant classic between two of the best boxers in the world.
Official Result: Dmitry Bivol def. Artur Beterbiev via majority decision (114-114, 116-112, 115-113) to win the undisputed light heavyweight world championship.
Check Out Highlights From Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2:
Dmitry Bivol found his groove early 🔥#BeterbievBivol2 | #RiyadhSeason
pic.twitter.com/2jBoVrHDlF— Delinquent MMA (@DelinquentMMA) February 22, 2025
Artur Beterbiev is turning up the heat 🔥#BeterbievBivol2 | #RiyadhSeason
pic.twitter.com/ySlgRYSFby— Delinquent MMA (@DelinquentMMA) February 22, 2025
Ridiculous pressure from Artur Beterbiev#BeterbievBivol2 | #RiyadhSeason
pic.twitter.com/qGgUT83XZL— Delinquent MMA (@DelinquentMMA) February 22, 2025
Incredible movement from Dmitry Bivol#BeterbievBivol2 | #RiyadhSeason
pic.twitter.com/vcwJeL43Cu— Delinquent MMA (@DelinquentMMA) February 22, 2025
Artur Beterbiev & Dmitry Bivol after 12 Rounds of boxing. #BeterbievBivol2pic.twitter.com/U5c7jw5PYF
— 001Sports (@001Sports_) February 22, 2025
Dmitry Bivol defeats Artur Beterbiev, via Majority Decision, to become the Undisputed World Light Heavyweight Champion. #BeterbievBivol2 pic.twitter.com/5bAeWcxmgx
— 001Sports (@001Sports_) February 22, 2025
