In the aftermath of his fighter Dmitry Bivol’s gripping 12-round majority decision victory over the undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev, promoter Eddie Hearn has entrusted Turki Alalshikh with the decision on who Bivol will face next. The electrifying bout took place at The Venue in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and has left the boxing world buzzing.
Fans are already buzzing about the possibility of a third encounter between Bivol, who holds a 24-1 record with 12 knockouts, and Beterbiev, who now stands at 21-1 with 20 knockouts. Hearn, however, has hinted at other promising avenues for Bivol, including a much-discussed rematch with Canelo Alvarez or a title defense against WBC mandatory challenger David Benavidez.
### Hearn’s Perspective
Hearn’s enthusiasm was palpable when Canelo’s name came up as a potential opponent for Bivol. Canelo, fresh off a bout with Terence Crawford on September 13th, could make a December rematch unlikely unless Alalshikh manages to expedite negotiations. Otherwise, fans might have to wait until 2026 for this blockbuster event.
If Hearn had his way, lining up a fight between Bivol and Canelo is top on his wish list. This matchup appears more winnable for Bivol based on tonight’s performance. Against a relentless fighter like Benavidez, who wouldn’t falter as Beterbiev did, Bivol might struggle to maintain his endurance and defensive strategy.
Beterbiev, who at 40 years of age had a strong start in the initial half of the fight, seemed poised for a knockout, only to noticeably slow down, likely due to fatigue. While he performed well enough to arguably win six rounds, the judges’ final ruling favored Bivol, leaving Beterbiev’s supporters disappointed.
Here are the judges’ scores:
– 115-113 for Bivol
– 116-112 for Bivol
– 114-114 draw
Eddie Hearn, while speaking to Ring Magazine, was effusive in his praise for Bivol’s showing on Saturday night, calling it “the best boxing performance I’ve ever seen live. It was unbelievable.” According to Hearn, Bivol’s use of angles effectively neutralized Beterbiev’s power, a tactic that he felt should have clinched Bivol’s earlier matchup against Beterbiev as well.
Reflecting on the fight, Hearn added, “No arguments this time, even though someone tried to rob us with a draw. It was a clear win. This time, Beterbiev started fast and probably tired a little bit. It was one-way traffic for a couple of rounds. He looked so dangerous.”
Wrapping up the potential paths for Bivol, Hearn noted, “Whatever Turki Alalshikh decides—be it Benavidez, Canelo, or a trilogy—I’m all in. The first fight was a 10 out of 10, and the next one will be even better.” This leaves fans eagerly anticipating the direction this incredible career will take next.
