Stevan Ivic Retains Australian Heavyweight Title
Stevan Ivic retained the Australian heavyweight title with a majority decision over Liam Talivaa on January 16, 2026, at Brisbane Entertainment Centre. Their 10-round bout was part of the Tszyu–Zerafa card.
Official Result
Stevan Ivic def. Liam Talivaa by majority decision. The judges scored it 96–94 twice and 95–95. With two cards for Ivic and one even card, the result was a majority decision win, and Ivic kept the Australian heavyweight title.
Talivaa Finishes Strong
The Ring described a close, slow-building contest. Ivic recovered after Talivaa’s early pressure, but the challenger finished strongly and wobbled the champion in the final round. The close scorecards reflected the competitive finish.
The title bout shared the Brisbane card with Nikita Tszyu vs. Michael Zerafa, Demsey McKean’s seventh-round TKO of Toese Vousiutu, and Liam Wilson’s fourth-round stoppage of Rodex Piala.
Context and Significance
The majority decision kept Ivic’s Australian heavyweight title, with two judges scoring the bout 96–94 for him and the third returning a 95–95 draw. Those cards show a competitive fight rather than a unanimous shutout. Talivaa reached the final bell, and the narrow margins explain why the majority designation matters. A title fight can remain close while still producing a clear champion; in this case, Ivic retained the belt because two judges gave him the edge over the ten rounds.
The majority label is often misunderstood: it means two judges selected Ivic, while the remaining judge scored the contest even. It does not mean one judge picked Talivaa. Here, the specific totals clarify the verdict and support the description of a narrow title defense. Including them gives readers enough evidence to understand why the belt stayed with Ivic.
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Tags: Boxing, Combat Sports
