Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev will finally share a ring tonight, as they meet in an undisputed title fight in Saudi Arabia.
The unbeaten light-heavyweights have orbited one another for some time, and they were due to clash in Riyadh in June, but Beterbiev sustained a knee injury that delayed the bout.
It has now arrived, however, with Beterbiev carrying the WBC, WBO and IBF belts into the Kingdom Arena, while 33-year-old Bivol reigns as WBA Super champion. Both boxers are pound-for-pound stars in the sport, with Beterbiev at No 6 in the Indy Sport rankings and Bivol at No 5.
Beterbiev, even at 39, is one of the most devastating punchers in all of boxing, having compiled a 20-0 record with 20 knockouts. Bivol, meanwhile, has gone 23-0 with 12 KOs as a slick mover, a fluid technician, and a volume puncher.
The contrast in styles should make for an intriguing match-up, and the fight caps off an impressive card: Chris Eubank Jr is in action before the main event, while heavyweights Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke meet in a rematch of one of the fights of the year: their bloody bout for the British title, which ended as a draw in March.
Follow live updates and results from Bivol vs Beterbiev and a stacked undercard, below:
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE
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Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev clash in undisputed title fight in Saudi Arabia
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Bivol holds WBA light-heavyweight belt; Beterbiev is WBC, WBO and IBF champion
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Beterbiev’s record stands at stunning 20-0 with 20 KOs, while Bivol is 23-0 (12 KOs)
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Chris Eubank Jr drops Kamil Szeremeta four times, scores TKO, faces off with Conor Benn
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Ben Whittaker and Liam Cameron draw after tumbling over top rope in bizarre scene
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Skye Nicolson keeps WBC featherweight belt with easy decision win over Raven Chapman
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Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke rematch up soon after March’s instant classic
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Jai Opetaia vs Jack Massey
20:49 , Alex Pattle
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
20:41 , Alex Pattle
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
20:27 , Alex Pattle
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
20:13 , Alex Pattle
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
20:10 , Alex Pattle
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
20:02 , Alex Pattle
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
19:54 , Alex Pattle
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
19:46 , Alex Pattle
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
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Chris Eubank Jr vs Kamil Szeremeta
19:33 , Alex Pattle
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
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Skye Nicolson vs Raven Chapman
19:20 , Alex Pattle
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
19:13 , Alex Pattle
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
19:07 , Alex Pattle
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
19:01 , Alex Pattle
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
18:58 , Alex Pattle
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.
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Ben Whittaker vs Liam Cameron
18:36 , Alex Pattle
Whittaker is now on his stool in the corner, being asked if he wants to continue.
His leg is getting checked. He seems to be in some discomfort. Is it the leg, or a nerve issue from his back?
Some observers will feel like Whittaker is looking for a way out, but either way, the fight is going to the scorecards!
This could be very close. It was trending in Cameron’s direction, but did he do enough across those five rounds to get the win…?
Whittaker won’t be in the ring for the reading of the scorecards; he’s been taken away in a wheelchair!
Ben Whittaker and Liam Cameron fight to split draw (technical decision; 58-57, 57-58, 58-58).
How is that a draw? Where was the 10-8 round???
Ben Whittaker injured after crashing over top rope in bizarre end to fight
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Ben Whittaker vs Liam Cameron
18:33 , Alex Pattle
Round five
Approaching the midway point of this 10-round fight.
Cameron is talking some trash to Whittaker when they’re clinching, it seems.
Whittaker is taken to the corner by the referee, after Cameron’s team complain about a low blow. The ref warns Whittaker that he’ll be deducted a point if he does it again.
Cameron is landing almost at will now, and… what’s this?!?! As the bell sounds, the fighters tumble over the top rope and onto the ring apron! I’ve never seen that before, except in WWE!
Cameron eventually stands, but Whittaker is still down!
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Ben Whittaker vs Liam Cameron
18:24 , Alex Pattle
Round three
Whittaker is starting to land with increasing frequency, and power, now. His right cross especially is getting through.
Those marks around Cameron’s eyes are worsening slightly, particularly on the left side.
But the underdog is still doing decent work here and there, using his experience and weight to get the most out of the clinches.
Two right hands from Cameron now! A hook and a straight. But Whittaker stays calm and comes back, forcing Cameron to the ropes and letting his hands go.
Round four
The light-heavyweights trade jabs, before Cameron throws a one-two upstairs then a left hook to the body.
There’s some phone-booth fighting, with each man leaning on the other and unfurling body shots.
Lovely combination from Cameron now, mixing up targets – head and body. Cameron tries to fire back with a right hook, but he’s totally off-balance.
Don’t get me wrong, Whittaker is still boxing well, but he’s absorbed the most damage we’ve seen in his pro career so far. He’s tagged by two hooks upstairs, only partially blocking them.
“If you are what you say you are, a superstar…” The lyrics of “Superstar” by Lupe Fiasco ring around the arena. Are you listening, Ben?
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Ben Whittaker vs Liam Cameron
18:16 , Alex Pattle
Round one
Olympic silver medalist Whittaker is 8-0 (5 KOs) as a pro, while Cameron is 23-6 (10 KOs).
Whittaker is known for his precise striking and his showboating. Already some of the former, none of the latter yet…
Whittaker is flicking out his orthodox jab, but he’s also waiting for Cameron to let his hands go, eyeing some counters.
The Britons tie up here and there. Cameron, after one clinch, catches Whittaker on the end of a jab.
Cameron – also standing orthodox, by the way – already looks marked up around his eyes, though. Some reddening, it looks like.
Whittaker with some longer combinations later in the round, more aggression now.
Round two
Cameron with some decent hooks at close range, as Whittaker struggles to clinch cleanly.
Nice counter cross by Whittaker, though. Great timing on that.
He’s also happy to flick gentle jabs at his opponent’s guard, perhaps lulling Cameron into a false sense of security.
Solid uppercut by Cameron! Now a right straight! Whittaker fires back with a rapid flurry to the body.
Good head movement by Whittaker and a little bit of showboating at last. Already, however, Cameron is offering Whittaker more of a test than most of the “Surgeon”’s opponents.
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Undercard begins!
18:05 , Alex Pattle
So, Mohammed Alakel beat Jesus Gonzalez via unanimous decision (40-36, 40-36, 40-36).
Next up, Britain’s Ben Whittaker faces compatriot Liam Cameron at light-heavyweight!
The ring walks are upon us.
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Frazer Clarke went through hell with Fabio Wardley – now he’s going back
17:00 , Alex Pattle
Another interview from this summer: Indy Sport spoke to Frazer Clarke about his rematch with Fabio Wardley on tonight’s undercard.
The pair’s first bout, at the O2 Arena in March, was a fight of the year contender – a bloody, draining, cinematic clash.
It ended as a draw, with Wardley retaining the British heavyweight title, and the unbeaten warriors meet again this evening.
Interview:
Frazer Clarke went through hell with Fabio Wardley – now he’s going back
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Saudi Arabia’s next bold move to revolutionise boxing
15:30 , Alex Pattle
The Saudis have made the biggest fights available on numerous channels, and now they are lowering pay-per-view prices. But do these new prices come at a different kind of cost?
Comment piece:
Saudi Arabia’s next bold move to revolutionise boxing
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Tonight, boxing offers up the perfect fight
15:00 , Alex Pattle
Every now and then in boxing, you get a perfect fight. They’re hard to find, and harder to get signed, but they do exist. Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol is one such fight.
For all the warranted criticism of Saudi Arabia’s entry into boxing, amid concerns over sportswashing, the realm’s new rulers have undoubtedly delivered match-ups that previously eluded fans. Among those match-ups, of course, one is likelier to find these perfect fights.
In May, Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk squared off in one of them: the first undisputed heavyweight title fight in 25 years, a meeting of unbeaten, generational talents. But even then, a “perfect” fight is usually just that on paper, and not necessarily in the ring. Fury and Usyk, however, delivered a modern classic, and they may yet do the same in their rematch on 21 December.
Overshadowed by that pair of heavyweight blockbusters in Riyadh, sitting between them chronologically and taking place in the same city, is Saturday’s main event: Beterbiev vs Bivol.
Main-event preview:
This weekend, boxing offers up the perfect fight
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Who is fighting on the undercard?
14:00 , Alex Pattle
Full card (subject to late changes; ‘C’ denotes champion)
Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol (for Beterbiev’s WBC, WBO and IBF light-heavyweight titles, and Bivol’s WBA title)
Chris Eubank Jr vs Kamil Szeremeta (middleweight)
Fabio Wardley (C) vs Frazer Clarke 2 (British heavyweight title)
Jai Opetaia (C) vs Jack Massey (IBF cruiserweight title)
Ben Whittaker vs Liam Cameron (light-heavyweight)
Skye Nicolson (C) vs Raven Chapman (WBC women’s featherweight title)
Mohammed Alakel vs Jesus Gonzalez (lightweight)
Who is fighting on the Bivol vs Beterbiev undercard?
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE: Pound-for-pound rankings
13:42 , Alex Pattle
See where Bivol and Beterbiev sit in our pound-for-pound top 10, and why:
Who’s really the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world?
Bivol vs Beterbiev LIVE
12:00 , Alex Pattle
Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev will finally share a ring tonight, as they meet in an undisputed title fight in Saudi Arabia.
The unbeaten light-heavyweights have orbited one another for some time, and they were due to clash in Riyadh in June, but Beterbiev sustained a knee injury that delayed the bout.
It has now arrived, however, with Beterbiev carrying the WBC, WBO and IBF belts into the Kingdom Arena, while 33-year-old Bivol reigns as WBA Super champion. Both boxers are pound-for-pound stars in the sport, with Beterbiev at No 6 in the Indy Sport rankings and Bivol at No 5.
Beterbiev, even at 39, is one of the most devastating punchers in all of boxing, having compiled a 20-0 record with 20 knockouts. Bivol, meanwhile, has gone 23-0 with 12 KOs as a slick mover, a fluid technician, and a volume puncher.
The contrast in styles should make for an intriguing match-up, and the fight caps off an impressive card: Chris Eubank Jr is in action before the main event, while heavyweights Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke meet in a rematch of one of the fights of the year: their bloody bout for the British title, which ended as a draw in March.
