Artur Beterbiev beat Dmitry Bivol by majority decision to become the undisputed light-heavyweight world champion as one of boxing’s most-anticipated fights lived up to the hype in Saudi Arabia.
In a contest that could have gone either way, Bivol, 33, won the earlier rounds with his superior movement and combinations.
Fellow undefeated Russian Beterbiev, 39, was undeterred and forced his way back into the fight with relentless pressure and power punching.
With scores of 114-114, 115-113 and 116-112, Beterbiev becomes the division’s first undisputed champion since 2002, and the first ever in the four-belt era.
“I feel not bad. I did not good today. I wanted to box with more quality,” said a modest Beterbiev – who is now WBC, WBA (Super), IBF and WBO champion.
Bivol was defeated for the first time in 24 bouts.
“I am a warrior. I don’t know, I did my job but I felt like I could do better but it was just the opinion of some judges,” he said.
In the chief support, Fabio Wardley retained the British heavyweight title with a spectacular first-round stoppage win over Frazer Clarke in a rematch of March’s fight-of-the-year contender.
Wardley, 29, landed a heavy, looping right hand to hurt the challenger and floored him with another ferocious right.
A dazed Clarke admirably rose to his feet but was in no position to continue as the referee halted the contest.
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