Beterbiev edges Bivol to become undisputed champion

Artur Beterbiev bushed Dmitry Bivol by bulk determination to go the undisputed light-heavyweight satellite champion arsenic 1 of boxing's most-anticipated fights lived up to the hype successful Saudi Arabia.

In a contention that could person gone either way, Bivol, 33, won the earlier rounds with his superior question and combinations.

Fellow undefeated Russian Beterbiev, 39, was undeterred and forced his mode backmost into the combat with relentless unit and powerfulness punching.

With scores of 114-114, 115-113 and 116-112, Beterbiev becomes the division's archetypal undisputed champion since 2002, and the archetypal ever successful the four-belt era.

"I consciousness not bad. I did not bully today. I wanted to container with much quality," said a humble Beterbiev - who is present WBC, WBA (Super), IBF and WBO champion.

Bivol was defeated for the archetypal clip successful 24 bouts.

"I americium a warrior. I don't know, I did my occupation but I felt similar I could bash amended but it was conscionable the sentiment of immoderate judges," helium said.

In the main support, Fabio Wardley retained the British heavyweight rubric with a spectacular first-round stoppage triumph implicit Frazer Clarke successful a rematch of March's fight-of-the-year contender.

Wardley, 29, landed a heavy, looping close manus to wounded the challenger and floored him with different ferocious right.

A dazed Clarke admirably roseate to his feet but was successful nary presumption to proceed arsenic the referee halted the contest.

Two unbeaten champions with differing but arsenic effectual styles produced a match-up of the highest level successful a combat to marque the boxing purist salivate.

A watchful Bivol shone aboriginal connected arsenic helium circled astir the ring, moving down the jab and landing astute combinations.

Despite his menacing power, two-time Olympian Beterbiev's boxing skills often spell nether the radar. He continued to locomotion Bivol down and landed a vicious assemblage changeable successful the fifth.

Just erstwhile it appeared Bivol was tiring, helium responded with a flurry of shots to momentarily stem the pressure, but Beterbiev would not backmost down.

Both champions were wounded successful a terrific seventh. A operation from Bivol stunned Beterbiev, who sprung into enactment seconds aboriginal to extremity the circular with immoderate ferocious powerfulness shots.

Beterbiev's country told him helium needed a knockdown arsenic the combat entered the title rounds.

"They ever accidental that. I was much focused but not much aggressive," helium said post-fight.

He could not find the finishing punch to support his cleanable knockout grounds but ended the combat connected top, winning rounds 10, 11 and 12 connected each 3 judges scorecards.

Beterbiev has not lone proved his worthy arsenic the champion pugilist of his division, helium has entertained his mode to the apical of the summit.

His historical triumph successful the Middle East undoubtedly cements his spot arsenic an all-time light-heavyweight great.

In specified a adjacent and entertaining fight, however, determination volition beryllium a clamouring from the boxing fraternity for a rematch.

Wardley and Clarke could not beryllium divided successful their all-action archetypal combat connected Easter Sunday, but the rematch was arsenic objective arsenic it comes.

Olympian Clarke leaned connected his amateur grounding with a astute treble jab successful the archetypal infinitesimal but Wardley – who contested conscionable a fistful of unlicensed achromatic collar bouts earlier turning pro – unleashed the earthy powerfulness to people his 17th stoppage successful 18 wins.

"I've got dynamite powerfulness successful each hand. Once I've wounded someone, I cognize I tin get escaped of them," unbeaten Wardley – who won his 18th pro combat – said.

Clarke received aesculapian assistance successful the ringing earlier heading implicit to congratulate the champion. The 2020 Olympic bronze medallist near earlier the effect was announced.

"I can't assistance it, warfare by sanction and warfare by nature," Wardley said. "Once I person my enemies hurt, there's nary assistance for them unless the doorbell rings."

He present surpasses home level and plans to acceptable upon a way towards satellite level.

With Wardley and IBF champion Daniel Dubois, and prospects specified arsenic Moses Itauma, the aboriginal looks agleam for British heavyweight boxing.