Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol: Live round-by-round updates
The Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol round-by-round updates are here. Fans will be walked through the highly anticipated light heavyweight title bout. The card is expected to start at 12:00 PM E.T. (Eastern Time) / 9:00 AM P.T. (Pacific Time), while the main event is estimated for a 5:15 PM E.T. / 2:15 PM P.T. start time.
The two men, who were previously scheduled to fight on June 1, had to postpone their bout for an Oct. 12 date after Beterbiev suffered a knee injury. Now, they are set to clash over 12, three-minute, rounds in one of the biggest boxing matches of the year.
They clash over the undisputed light heavyweight title, with Beterbiev holding the division's IBF, WBC, and WBO belts. Meanwhile, Bivol reigns as the WBA light heavyweight champion. Their bout is marked by both men's stylistic differences, with Beterbiev being one of the most terrifying finishers in boxing.
He has stopped 100% of his opponents, authoring a spotless 20-0 record, all TKOs/knockouts. Bivol, on the other hand, is a defensive wizard whose technical mastery has seen him outbox even the great Canelo Alvarez and build a 23-0 record.
Despite Beterbiev's fearsome power, the oddsmakers at DraftKings Sportsbook expect Bivol to win, listing him as a -130 favorite, while Beterbiev is a +110 underdog.
Follow Sportskeeda for play-by-play analysis and live scoring of the light heavyweight title bout.
Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol
Round 1: Both men meet in the center, with Bivol flicking out his jab. Beterbiev applies immediate pressure, landing to the body. Another body jab for Beterbiev, and Bivol fires back with a sharp jab. Not much action yet, as the feeling out process is still underway.
Beterbiev lands a left hook, holding the center. Bivol lands high then goes low, digging a jab into the body. A combination lands for Bivol. Meanwhile, Beterbiev lands his own body jab, only to eat one in return from Bivol. The two men end the round with an exchange, with Bivol landing a nice one-two. 10-9 Bivol
Round 2: Beterbiev is heavy with the pressure on the onset, landing a nice uppercut to the body. Bivol fires back with a pair of jabs. More jabs from Bivol, who isn't keen on making any mistakes against a fighter as powerful as Beterbiev. Another stream of jabs from Bivol.
Beterbiev finds an opening for a body jab, but Bivol answers him with a partially landed combination. Beterbiev advances and Bivol smacks a check hook into the former's gloves. Body jab from Bivol, who is the more active of the two. Beterbiev is still making reads, and eats a one-two as he tries to close the distance.
Jabs from Beterbiev, who is crowding Bivol more and more, giving him no breathing room. Bivol lands with his left. 10-9 Bivol
Round 3: Beterbiev lands a one-two, then blasts Bivol with a body jab. His pressure is much heavier this round. Another jab to the body lands for Beterbiev. Bivol tries to answer in kind, but Beterbiev lowers his forearms to block it. They clinch and break, with Bivol landing a jab and slick one-two.
More one-twos land for Bivol. Beterbiev flicks out his jab, backing his foe up, landing a right hook around Bivol's guard. But Bivol fires back with his own over the top. Beterbiev with some hard short shots. Bivol unloads with a combination and they clinch. They break and exchange again before another clinch. 10-9 Bivol
Round 4: More pressure from Beterbiev, who lands shots to the body, stalking him. He has Bivol backed up to the ropes, but Bivol unleashes a quick combination that finds the mark. Beterbiev is struggling to land clean thus far. Bivol, meanwhile, lands another combination, moving laterally as Beterbiev cuts the ring.
A jab lands for Bivol, who is just more active. Beterbiev lands his jab, but is struggling to keep Bivol caged. A hook to the body lands for Beterbiev, but it's too little too late. 10-9 Bivol
Round 5: The round starts as all others have, with Beterbiev applying pressure. They trade punches and Beterbiev is now backing him up to the ropes, landing a right hand on the gloves. A jab gets through for Bivol, who follows up with a combination, alternating targets from the head to the body.
Beterbiev walks him down and tries to string together combinations, but Bivol interrupts him with stinging jabs. A good body shot lands for Beterbiev, who subsequently eats a good right hand from Bivol. They clinch and Beterbiev chucks him off, almost landing off the break. 10-9 Bivol
Round 6: Jabs land for Bivol, but Beterbiev comes back with a left hook. A big hook to the body lands for Beterbiev. That may be his route to success against Bivol, whose chin is difficult to find. Body shot lands for Bivol. Beterbiev is walking him down now, opening up with combinations.
Bivol lands a slick combination. Beterbiev tries to walk him down again but eats a right hand. A big right hand lands for Beterbiev on the midsection, followed by a hook over the top. 10-9 Beterbiev
Round 7: Beterbiev is on the front foot, landing jabs. Bivol fires off a combination. Both men exchange jabs. Bivol lands a combination, then goes for it again. Beterbiev is still patient though. A big combination lands for Bivol that gets Beterbiev's attention, but Beterbiev answers with something that may have stung Bivol.
Now Beterbiev seems to want his get-back, chasing Bivol around the ring as Beterbiev starts unloading. It's all Beterbiev from corner to corner as he swarms an impotent Bivol until the round ends. 10-9 Beterbiev
Round 8: Body shot lands for Beterbiev, before Bivol pumps out a quick jab. Another body shot lands for Beterbiev, who starts doubling up his jab. Bivol finally lands his own body shot. More body shots from Beterbiev. A one-two from Bivol hits the gloves.
It's a slower round, but Beterbiev briefly backs him up to the ropes, unleashing a combination. The two men trade right hands. The round ends with a flurry from both men. 10-9 Beterbiev
Round 9: Beterbiev opens the round with a body jab and left hook up top. Bivol answers in kind with his own body shot. Bivol is on the front foot now, partially landing his right hand. But Beterbiev wards off his brief gust of pressure. Bivol lands another body shot and uncorks a big left hook that lands on the glove.
Beterbiev eats a one-two and lands a jab. An uppercut to the body lands for Bivol, who has had a better round than the last few. A nice combination from Bivol lands on the head and body. Beterbiev countershim and they clinch before ending the round with Beterbiev on the gas. 10-9 Bivol
Round 10: Beterbiev with a combination, but it all lands on the gloves. Finally, he reverts to his body shots. A short right hand finds a home from Beterbiev, who is now walking Bivol down. A body shot slips through for Bivol, but Beterbiev is heavy on the front foot.
Bivol unleashes a furious combination, and they clinch. Beterbiev tries to heighten the aggression and frequency but Bivol's defense is airtight. Hardly anything of consequence gets through as Beterbiev blasts his foe on the arms. 10-9 Bivol
Round 11: Beterbiev fighting with more urgency, likely aware that he's down on the scorecards. Bivol lands to the body. A speedy combination lands for Bivol, who is proving too evasive for Beterbiev. The Dagestani bruiser is making it ugly now, just walking him down and firing off on the inside.
He's no longer giving Bivol any space, landing heavy shots on the inside, landing to the body and head. Bivol is almost purely defensive now. He's not throwing much back. Something big got through as Beterbiev swarms Bivol, causing his foe's left eye to swell badly. Beterbiev is opening up.
Beterbiev is landing hard and they clinch. 10-9 Beterbiev
Round 12: The final round is off to a frantic pace, with Beterbiev quick with a combination. Bivol tries to fire off his own combination. This is a close fight and it may come down to who puts their stamp on round 12. Bivol unloads with a quick combination.
Beterbiev needs to do more, as he eats a body shot. They clinch and the referee separates them. Jabs from Beterbiev, who then lands a right hand. Beterbiev is swarming Bivol now, blasting him with something big to the body. They clinch and the referee breaks them up.
Beterbiev swarms Bivol, landing to the head and body as Bivol clinches, holding on. Beterbiev ends the round blasting Bivol. Beterbiev's 100% knockout streak is over. 10-9 Beterbiev
Official Decision: Artur Beterbiev def. Dmitry Bivol via majority decision (114-114, 115-113-116-112)