Grapevine

Beterbiev defeats Bivol for undisputed boxing world champion crown

Artur Beterbiev beats Dmitry Bivol on majority points to combine the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF belts at the fight in Riyadh.

Russian-born Canadian boxer Artur Beterbiev has been crowned the undisputed light-heavyweight world champion after he beat his Russian rival Dmitry Bivol on a majority points decision in Saudi Arabia.

Two of the three ringside judges scored the fight 115-113 and 116-112 to Beterbiev, while the other called it tied at 114-114 at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena on Saturday.

Both men were previously undefeated, with 33-year-old Bivol holding the WBA belt and Beterbiev, 39, the reigning WBC, WBO and IBF champion.

By taking the bearded Beterbiev to a full 12 rounds in the Saudi capital, Bivol became the first man to go the distance against a champion with a previous 100 percent record of winning by knockout or stoppage.