Bivol vs Beterbiev: The Battle for Undisputed Light Heavyweight Glory

On Saturday, October 12, the boxing world will witness a historic showdown as Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol face off for the undisputed light heavyweight championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This highly anticipated fight, set to take place at the Kingdom Arena, will determine the first-ever undisputed light heavyweight champion in the four-belt era.

Beterbiev, the unified WBC, WBO, and IBF champion, boasts an impressive record of 20-0 with 20 knockouts, making him the only champion with a 100% KO ratio. He has held at least one of these belts since November 11, 2017. Bivol, the WBA titleholder, is 23-0 with 12 knockouts and has successfully defended his belt 12 times, including a notable victory over Canelo Alvarez in May 2022.

Both fighters have a rich history, having been part of the same Russian national amateur squad. Beterbiev, a two-time Olympian, was a formidable heavyweight, while Bivol, who was younger, competed as a middleweight. Despite their past, both fighters insist that the upcoming bout is not personal but rather a professional milestone they have been working towards their entire careers.

The fight has been delayed from its initial June date due to Beterbiev’s meniscus tear and subsequent knee surgery. The event will also feature other significant bouts, including the rematch between Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke for the British heavyweight title, and Jai Opetaia defending his IBF cruiserweight title against Jack Massey.

The weigh-in saw Beterbiev come in at 12 stone 7 pounds, exactly on the limit, while Bivol weighed in at 12 stone 6 pounds. Promoter Eddie Hearn described the matchup as a “generational clash” between two incredibly skilled fighters.

The fight will be available to watch on ESPN+ in the United States, with the main card starting at 6 p.m. ET. Preliminary bouts will be streamed on DAZN. International audiences can also access the entire card through DAZN.

This bout marks a significant moment in boxing history, with the winner becoming only the 12th undisputed champion in the four-belt era. The last time the light heavyweight division had an undisputed champion was in 2000, when Roy Jones Jr. held the title.