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: Fabio Wardley vs Frazer Clarke 2
Fabio Wardley def. Frazer Clarke via first-round TKO (2:28).
Wardley retains the British heavyweight title. Clarke received medical attention for quite some time there; perhaps a broken jaw to take care of...?
Wardley: “I always know, once I hurt someone, I can get rid of them. Once I have my enemies hurt, nothing can save them.
“I took enough assessment from the first fight to know: We had success in that war mode, we just needed to cuten it a bit.”
Promoter Frank Warren later tells DAZN: “I understand that Frazer has fractured his jaw, his cheekbone.”
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Fabio Wardley vs Frazer Clarke 2
The ring walks are almost upon us. Will this fight live up to its predecessor? We’ll find out in a matter of minutes...
Clarke is striding to the ring. He looks very confident! But so does Wardley, who has just joined him in Kingdom Arena.
Wardley is 17-0-1 (16 KOs) as a pro, while Olympic bronze medalist Clarke is 8-0-1 (6 KOs).
Round one
Both men stand orthodox. Each flicks out a few jabs, then the heavyweights briefly grapple.
Decent body shot by Wardley, then a retort upstairs by Clarke. The latter follows up with a double-jab and a right cross. Wardley jabs to the body then lands a grazing cross up top.
OH! Wardley rocks Clarke with a right overhand, then pours on a flurry of fast shots!
A left hook and right hook, then another right hook, and Clarke sinks into the ropes! The ref starts counting, but Clarke’s face... His jaw is askew, there’s a DENT in his head, and his eyes aren’t there!
And the referee waves it off! NO WAR THIS TIME, over in round one!!!
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Fabio Wardley vs Frazer Clarke 2
Next up, a rematch of the arguable fight of the year: Fabio Wardley vs Frazer Clarke.
The pair’s first bout, at the O2 Arena in March, was a bloody, draining, cinematic clash.
It ended as a draw, with Wardley retaining the British heavyweight title, and the unbeaten warriors meet again in a few minutes.
While we wait, why not read our exclusive interview with Clarke?
Frazer Clarke went through hell with Fabio Wardley – now he’s going back
Interview: After battling Wardley to a draw in a contender for fight of the year, Clarke talks to The Independent about their upcoming rematch
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Jai Opetaia vs Jack Massey
Round six
Massey is so tough. Whenever you think he may be nearing the end, he comes back with a combination.
But all he can do right now is shove Opetaia away from him, between combinations from the champion.
Opetaia is varying his offence nicely, and his stamina has been so impressive.
OH! And Massey’s corner throws in the towel! Massey takes a moment to realise, then briefly protests, but it’s probably the right call...
Jai Opetaia def. Jack Massey via sixth-round TKO (2:00).
Plenty of respect between the two boxers.
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Jai Opetaia vs Jack Massey
Round four
Massey is struggling to stay off the ropes and out of the corners. He eats a few body shots from Opetaia.
Both fighters land good right hands. Massey’s face is swelling a little, and he might be cut around the bridge of his nose...
Still, he’s having moments of success... And right as I say that, Opetaia pours on the pressure to end the round on top.
Round five
Opetaia is fast out the gates, cornering Massey and mixing up some offence. In the corner, before this round, the champion was asked: “Where’s your jab gone?” Opetaia is trying to get it going again.
Massey opens up once more, trying to keep pace with the Australian, but he’s soon put on the back foot. That blood around the bridge of Massey’s nose is spreading, and he’s been cut near his left eye...
Opetaia with some heavy punches now, to the head and body, and Massey looks drained.
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Jai Opetaia vs Jack Massey
Round two
Opetaia edges forward. He lands a right hook to the head then a left hand to the body. Another body shot now, then a brief combination.
Another cross to the mid-section of Massey. These will add up. Massey fires back with a one-two, but Opetaia keeps a tight guard.
Massey is cornered again, and Opetaia sporadically picks his shots, mixing it up. The cruiserweights move into space, where Opetaia continues to spread out his shots, time-wise, but loading up on each one.
Round three
Massey with a nice left hook, but Opetaia eats it well. Another left hook from Massey, this time on the counter. Opetaia with a left hook of his own – and another.
Massey with a right hook to the body, but Opetaia continues to press forward, landing a straight shot now. Massey with some decent work at close range, though.
Both men land left hooks. Massey is opening up more as the fight goes on, but he’s spending too much time on the back foot.
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Jai Opetaia vs Jack Massey
Next up, Australia’s Jai Opetaia defends the IBF cruiserweight title against Britain’s Jack Massey.
Opetaia is unbeaten, while Massey has two losses – one against Richard Riakporhe, and one to Joseph Parker at heavyweight.
This morning in London, I met one of Massey’s teammates, who is gathering with their other gym colleagues right now to watch the bout.
Round one
Opetaia stands southpaw, Massey is orthodox. Opetaia presses forward and fires off a cross. Massey comes back with an uppercut, but it’s blocked well.
Opetaia with a pair of left straights to the body. Massey is backed up to the ropes again. Opetaia feints as if he’s going to attack the midriff, before pinging a cross onto the chin of the Briton.
Massey with a jab up top and a right hook to the body. Nice work. He throws a longer combination to deter Opetaia from forcing him into the corner.
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Chris Eubank Jr vs Kamil Szeremeta
Chris Eubank Jr def. Kamil Szeremeta via seventh-round TKO (1:50).
With that, Eubank Jr picks up the IBO middleweight title.
“Speaking of easy work, look who we’ve got here, baby,” Eubank Jr says, as he faces off with Benn again. “This is the fight everyone wants to see, huh?”
Benn: “After that performance, you think I’m worried?”
Neymar enters the ring, and even though he’s primarily Portuguese-speaking, Benn insults Eubank Jr in Spanish and asks the footballer to translate.
Eubank Jr calls on Benn to “sign the contract”.
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.
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