On Saturday, Dmitry Bivol defeated Lyndon Arthur via unanimous decision to maintain his WBA light heavyweight title.
In the final seconds of the penultimate round, Bivol(22-0, 11 KOs) floored Arthur(23-2, 16 KOs) with a barrage of body shots, and on all three scorecards, Bivol, 33, was declared the winner, 120-107.
“It was good sparring for me. I’m glad that the end of the year I got this fight and now I see my way to my goal, to undisputed [championship] against the winner of [Artur] Beterbiev-[Callum] Smith. I hope this fight will happen in 2024,” said Bivol in media reports.
Last year, Bivol, a fighter based in Saint Petersburg, Russia, defeated Gilberto Ramirez and Canelo Alvarez. He didn’t fight in 2023 until Saturday after having hand surgery in April. And when Bivol did step into the ring, he appeared to be just like him—a world-class boxer with impeccable technique and one of the best jabs in the sport. He set up his power right hands and controlled the entire bout with his accurate lead hand.
“I felt like I did all right, but obviously not good enough. One of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. He’s as good as everyone thinks he is. I believe he’ll beat Beterbiev,” ” said Arthur in media reports.
The one loss Arthur a 32-year old boxer from England has ever experienced came from a fourth-round knockout against Anthony Yarde in 2021. To establish who is the best light heavyweight, Bivol must fight the winner of Artur Beterbiev vs. Callum Smith on January 13.
“Dmitry’s committed now with Saudi to make that fight,” said promoter Eddie Hearn in media reports.
At the ‘Day of Reckoning’ tournament, Filip Hrgovic(17-0, 14KOs) defeated Mark de Mori(41-3-2, 37KOs) in just one round during a night of early finishes. Meanwhile, Frank Sanchez(24-0, 17KOs) stopped Junior Fa(19-3, 10KOs) in the opening round, and Arslanbek Makhmudov(18-1, 17KOs) lost by stoppage to Agit Kabaye(24-0, 16KOs).
In the two main events, Anthony Joshua(27-3, 24KOs) defeated Otto Wallin(26-2, 14KOs) into retirement before the start of the sixth round, while Deontay Wilder(43-3-1, 42KOs) was unexpectedly defeated by fellow former world champion Joseph Parker(34-3, 23KOs) of New Zealand.
