Dmitry Bivol finally heard the long-awaited words, “And the new undisputed light heavyweight champion…” after his victory over Artur Beterbiev at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fight mirrored their previous encounter, with a similar ebb and flow throughout. However, this time, the outcome was clear—Bivol had done just enough to secure the win.
Bivol initially took control in the early rounds, while Beterbiev fought back in the middle of the fight. In the final rounds, both fighters exchanged momentum, with Beterbiev finishing strong in the championship rounds. When the judges’ scorecards were revealed—Deon Dwarte scored it 115-113, Mike Fitzgerald had it 116-112, and Jean-Robert Laine scored it 114-114—it was Bivol who emerged as the winner by majority decision. Now, with the light heavyweight division shaken up, the big question is: What’s next for Beterbiev?
One obvious possibility is a trilogy fight. Many great rivalries in boxing have been settled in three fights, such as Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier and Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin. Given the close nature of their bouts, a rubber match between Beterbiev and Bivol seems both natural and justified. The third fight would serve as the ultimate decider, where the winner takes all the bragging rights. Beterbiev has already called for a decisive showdown with Bivol, and since Bivol granted him a rematch, it’s only fair that Bivol returns the favor. This trilogy could become a defining series for the era, especially considering the significance of the undisputed light heavyweight title, a feat not seen in the sport since 1999.
Another potential route for Beterbiev is to face an undefeated challenger to rebuild momentum. One candidate is WBA No. 2-ranked Albert Ramirez, who is also highly ranked in multiple organizations. Ramirez, with a perfect 20-0 record, would offer a significant challenge to Beterbiev while also allowing Bivol to fight David Benavidez, setting the stage for a potential rematch down the line.
Lastly, there’s the possibility of a bout between Artur Beterbiev and David Morrell. Though Morrell lost to David Benavidez, he could serve as an intriguing opponent for Beterbiev’s comeback. This fight could pave the way for Benavidez and Bivol to face off, with the winners of both bouts potentially meeting for the undisputed title. However, this scenario depends on Beterbiev being open to alternative opponents, which might be unlikely if he insists on pursuing a trilogy with Bivol first, as Bivol did after his own loss last year.
These potential matchups offer various exciting options for Beterbiev as he looks to recover from his first career loss, but the prospect of a trilogy with Bivol remains the most highly anticipated.