Dmitry Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) avenged one and only career loss in a return duel with Artur Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) becoming unified light heavyweight champion. Bivol walk away with the IBF, WBC, WBO, WBA and IBO 175-pound titles with a majority decision victory (114-114, 116-112, 115-113). THE LAST CRESCENDO: BETERBIEV VS. BIVOL 2, at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“I’m just so happy. I went through a lot in the last year. Thank you so much everybody. I appreciate everybody from my team, my coaches, everyone.” Bivol said, “Just me. I was better. I was pushing myself more. I was more confident, I was lighter, and I just wanted to win so much today.”
With the rivalr even at 1-1, “I’m ready for any future challenge. I want a little bit of rest because I had some injuries. I want to heal myself and then come back after.”
“I think this fight was better than the first fight. Now it's my time to come back.” Arthur Beterbiev said.
Former WBO champion Joseph Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) of New Zealand, stopped Martin Bakole (21-1, 16 KOs) of Kananaga, Democratic Republic of the Congo, in the second round for the interim WBO title. Bakole stepped into the fight on short notice when IBF World Champion Daniel Dubois was forced to withdraw due to illness days before the scheduled bout.
Parker connected with a huge overhand right as Bakole crumbled to the canvas forcing the referee to stop the fight at 2:17 of round two.
WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson (23-0, 11 KOs) of Newark, N.J., successfully defended his title against undefeated contender Josh Padley (15-1, 4 KOs) of Yorkshire, U.K., who replaced Floyd Schofield this week due to illness. Stevenson scored three knockdowns in the ninth. Padley’s corner had seen enough and threw in the towel, giving Stevenson the TKO.
Carlos Adames (24-1-1, 18 KOs) of the Dominican Republic, retained his WBC middleweight title in a controversial split-decision draw against Hamzah Sheeraz (21-0-1, 17 KOs) of Essex, U.K. The judges scored the contest 115-114 for Sheeraz, another had it 118-110 for Adames, and the third scored it 114-114, a draw.
Super welterweight Vergil Ortiz Jr. (23-0, 21 KOs) of Grand Prairie, Texas, remained unbeaten with a unanimous decision (117-111, 115-113, 115-113) in a back-and-forth battle with former world champion Israil Madrimov (10-2-1, 7 KOs) of, Uzbekistan.
Germany’s undefeated heavyweight Agit Kabayel (26-0, 17 KOs) scored a knockout over _China's Zhilei “Big Bang” Zhang (27-3-1, 22 KOs), for the interim WBC title. Zhang was aggressive from the start but Kabayel kept his composure while working the the body. From the second round round on, Kabayel outlanded Zhang connecting to the body. Zhang dropped Kabayel with a counter left that dropped the 32-year-old. Kabayel got off the mat and, one round later, was able to finally put Zhang down, finishing him with a piercing right hook to the body.
Former WBA and Ring 168-pound World Champion Callum Smith (31-2, 22 KOs) of Liverpool took Olympic Bronze Medalist Joshua Buatsi's (19-1, 13 KOs) unbeaten record with a thrilling unanimous decision (119-110, 115-113, 116-112) for the interim WBO Light Heavyweight Title.
Local welterweight prospect Ziyad “Zizo” Almaayouf (7-0-1, 1 KO) overwhelmed Jonatas de Oliveira (6-21, 5 KOs) of Para, Brazil, with a constant barrage of punches en route to a straight sweep decision win (60-54, 60-54, 60-54)
Super featherweight “Mighty” Mohammed Alakel (3-0, 1 KO) of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, stormed over Engel Gomez (8-43-3, 4 KOs) of Chinandega, Nicaragua, and got the unanimous decision (60-54, 60-54, 60-54)
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