Bivol’s Redemption: Beterbiev vs. Bivol 2 Fight Card Results
Dmitry Bivol avenged his October 2024 loss to Artur Beterbiev by winning their rematch via majority decision on February 22, 2025, at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Bivol regained the undisputed light heavyweight championship with two judges scoring for him, 116-112 and 115-113; the third card was 114-114. The result made their rivalry 1-1 and handed Beterbiev his first professional defeat. Top Rank’s official event record confirms the venue, result and scorecards.
Bivol answers with a tactical win
Their first bout had been a narrow majority decision for Beterbiev, leaving the rematch with all four major light heavyweight belts at stake. Bivol boxed with discipline, using his jab, footwork and straight counters to control much of the middle section. Beterbiev pressed hard in the early rounds and again in the 12th, but Bivol’s cleaner work over the second half earned the two winning cards. Both fighters finished all 12 rounds. Bivol improved to 24-1; Beterbiev was 21-1 after the first loss of his career. Top Rank’s report describes the shift in momentum and the judges’ scores.
A deep undercard in Riyadh
Joseph Parker stopped late replacement Martin Bakole in the second round to claim the interim WBO heavyweight title. Shakur Stevenson retained his WBC lightweight belt by stopping Josh Padley in round nine after Padley stepped in on short notice. Agit Kabayel knocked out Zhilei Zhang in the sixth to win the interim WBC heavyweight title.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. retained his interim WBC super welterweight championship with a unanimous decision over Israil Madrimov. The scorecards were 117-111, 115-113 and 115-113. Carlos Adames and Hamzah Sheeraz fought to a split draw in their WBC middleweight title bout, while Callum Smith beat Joshua Buatsi by unanimous decision in the interim WBO light heavyweight contest. The full card also included the title fights and outcomes recorded by Bad Left Hook’s event results and the WBC’s report on Stevenson.
Where the rivalry stands now
After the rematch, a third meeting was discussed, but it has not happened. Bivol later relinquished the WBC title. As of October 17, 2026, he is scheduled to defend his remaining light heavyweight titles against Callum Smith on December 12 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The planned defense gives Bivol a different immediate assignment from the trilogy once suggested after the Riyadh rematch. Reuters’ October 12 report confirms the Smith bout and notes that a third fight with Beterbiev has yet to materialize.
The February 2025 result remains the defining second chapter of the rivalry: Bivol restored his standing as a champion with a composed performance, while Beterbiev had to absorb the first defeat of an otherwise unbeaten professional career. Their majority decisions across the two fights underline how closely matched they were over 24 rounds.
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Tags: MMA
