Beterbiev edges past Bivol in controversial result after undisputed fight - live reaction
Artur Beterbiev won the undisputed light-heavyweight titles, staying unbeaten and handing Dmitry Bivol his first loss – but due to a controversial scorecard
Artur Beterbiev secured undisputed status at light-heavyweight with a controversial win over Dmitry Bivol on Saturday.
Beterbiev entered Saudi Arabia as unified champion, holding the WBC, WBO and IBF belts, and he took Bivol’s WBA title via majority decision. The scorecards read 114-114, 115-113, 116-112 in favour of Beterbiev, 39, with the latter scorecard seeming surprisingly wide.
Bivol, 33, is known as the slicker technician, while Beterbiev is famed for his power – which had forged a 20-0 record with 20 knockouts before Saturday (12 October). And Bivol’s tidy work seemed to build him an early lead, although Beterbiev continually pressed forward and sporadically showed his strength.
Bivol impressed with his bravery and composure, often standing in front of the harder hitter and crafting trademark combinations, although at many points he was forced to skip around the ring and throw short shots to deter Beterbiev. As the momentum swayed, Bivol seemed to pull ahead in the middle rounds, before Beterbiev came on strong in the final frames – occasionally forcing Bivol to cover up and hold on for the bell.
Even so, the 116-112 scorecard in the Russian-Canadian’s favour will surprise many viewers, with the consensus being that a draw or narrow win for either fighter would have been fair. Regardless, Bivol – also of Russian descent but with Kyrgyzstani heritage – will leave Riyadh with a first professional loss to his name (23-1, 12 KOs).
Re-live Beterbiev vs Bivol and the undercard action, below:
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Chris Eubank Jr vs Kamil Szeremeta
Round seven
In that round, Eubank Jr did well to invest in the body, too. He’s doing more of that in round seven as well.
He is warned for one or two punches to the back of Szeremeta’s head, but the action is soon under way again.
ANOTHER knockdown! It’s a body shot that puts down Szeremeta this time!
He’s back up once again, but Eubank Jr has the bit between his teeth, looking for the finish.
A FOURTH knockdown! Another body shot does it, and the ref says enough is enough!
There’s the stoppage win that Eubank Jr needed!
Conor Benn is already in the ring, pushing Eubank Jr, who just fist-bumped Neymar at ringside...
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Chris Eubank Jr vs Kamil Szeremeta
Round five
More of the same as we near the midway mark of this 12-round fight. Eubank Jr is getting hit much more than he would’ve liked, but Szeremeta doesn’t have the weight of shot to trouble the Briton too badly.
Round six
The pattern of the fight continues: Eubank Jr getting the better of the Pole, but Szeremeta sporadically troubling the favourite.
OH! But down goes Szeremeta after a clean right hook from Eubank Jr! It’s late in the round, and Szeremeta is able to climb to his feet and beat the ref’s count before the bell.
Two knockdowns of the underdog in six rounds.
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Chris Eubank Jr vs Kamil Szeremeta
Round three
Eubank Jr with a left uppercut and right hook. He then misses with a wild left hook, and Szeremeta wrestles the Briton to his knees.
Back up, and Szeremeta lands a clean overhand right! He just doesn’t seem to have the power to hurt Eubank Jr, though...
Having said that, Eubank Jr is actually sporting some blood, seemingly from a cut on his brow. He’s wrestled to the mat again now. Again Eubank Jr stands, and he digs to the body of Szeremeta a few times with uppercuts.
Round four
A replay shows that Eubank Jr was cut by an accidental headbutt and a follow-up hook. In the corner between rounds, Eubank Jr is told to focus on small punches, not big shots.
As round four begins, he is not listening to his coaches, aha... Maybe it will serve him well; he’s pouring on punches.
But he’s intermittently getting tagged, too. It’s largely because he’s telegraphing these harder shots, I’d say.
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Chris Eubank Jr vs Kamil Szeremeta
Round one
So, the story here is that Eubank Jr – aged 35 – is running out of time to have the biggest fights available. And he needs a statement win to get those fights. ‘A decision will not do,’ is the general thinking.
He starts with some sharp jabs, then a one-two, which drops Szeremeta to his knees!! Barely one minute gone!
Eubank Jr tries a few uppercuts, but his middleweight opponent stays out of reach. Now Szeremeta holds Eubank Jr. The pair separate, and Szeremeta lands a slick cross. More good jabs from Eubank Jr, though.
Szeremeta has another decent spell, however! He’s done well to stay in this round.
Round two
Conor Benn is watching from ringside, by the way, a couple of days after he and Eubank Jr traded heated words at a hotel in Riyadh. They were due to fight two years ago, but Benn’s failed drug tests curbed that bout – and he has not fought in Britain since, due to a ban.
A slower round here, with a few boos as Eubank Jr and Szeremeta grapple. The boxers separate, and Eubank Jr lands a right and left uppercut back-to-back! What a rare sequence.
Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn separated by security during hotel run-in
The Britons have remained linked since their 2022 fight fell through, after Benn failed two drug tests
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Chris Eubank Jr vs Kamil Szeremeta
Indy Sport columnist Steve Bunce is on hand to preview Chris Eubank Jr’s fight, which is up next...
“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
Eubank Jr, now 35 years old, faces Kamil Szeremeta on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol, and Steve Bunce details how he can still secure a blockbuster fight, perhaps against bitter rival Conor Benn, to define his career in 2025
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Skye Nicolson vs Raven Chapman
Round nine
A bit more grappling, before the women separate and Nicolson easily evades a lunging Chapman.
Nicolson then lands a pair of left hooks at close range. More clinching now.
After the round, Chapman’s corner tells her: “I think we just have to give her everything now.”
Round 10
So, Chapman needs a knockout. What can she produce in this final round?
A lot of feints from her, but Nicolson isn’t biting, and so Chapman isn’t going for the shots after all.
When she eventually does, Nicolson continues to pick her off on the counter.
And to the scorecards we’ll go...
Skye Nicolson def. Raven Chapman via unanimous decision (99-91, 98-92, 98-92).
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Skye Nicolson vs Raven Chapman
Round seven
Chapman is running out of time to make the necessary changes here.
She jabs to the body, in a smarter move, but Nicolson times a counter cross very well.
Now a naked cross, but Chapman can’t stop it.
Round eight
Chapman said before this fight that she can knock out Nicolson. Well, she needs to!
The challenger tries to corner Nicolson, who stays light on her feet and skips into space.
Both women land left hooks before tying up. They separate, and Nicolson connects again with a left hook on the turn.
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Skye Nicolson vs Raven Chapman
Round five
Chapman continues to press forward, with Nicolson still content to counter. Another rear uppercut lands for the champion.
Round six
Into the second half of the fight. More counter hooks from Nicolson, although Chapman catches her on the end of a right cross.
Nicolson is smiling, looking like she’s having the time of her life.
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Skye Nicolson vs Raven Chapman
Round three
Southpaw Nicolson finally sits down on a shot, and that gets a reaction out of Chapman.
Oh! Well-timed counter from Nicolson. This is better from the Aussie.
A rear uppercut catches out Chapman now. And a hook. Nicolson has found her rhythm.
Chapman with a decent right hand, though, leaping in.
Round four
Will I ever get through one of these events without writing, “These two-minute rounds really fly by”? No.
Into the fourth round of 10. Nicolson with a counter left hook, but Chapman gets through with a right hook.
Nicolson taxes Chapman on a couple of over-eager entries by the Briton.
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Skye Nicolson vs Raven Chapman
Anyway, the undercard continues!
Skye Nicolson defends the WBC women’s featherweight title against Raven Chapman.
Both fighters are unbeaten. Chapman represents Britain, Nicolson fights out of Australia.
Rounds one and two
A bit of an aggressive start from Chapman, who is pressing forward and keeping Nicolson thinking.
The featherweights briefly grapple, with Chapman landing a decent right hand before that clinch and one after.
There’s a bit of the Whittaker fight in this bout: Nicolson, the favoured fighter, isn’t off to the sharpest start.
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