Dmitry Bivol got his revenge as he was able to turn the tide and win a 12-round majority decision over Artur Beterbiev in a rematch at the A & B Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The fight was almost a mirror image of the first fight that took place in October, but this time it was Bivol who won the majority of rounds over the second half of the contest. Beterbiev was good early as he landed the harder shots and took an early lead on the cards. Bivol was able to change thigs up as he boxed and countered and was able to get off his shots. Beterbiev was never out of the fight, but he simply was not able to keep the same rhythm that of the first six rounds.
Bivol landed 170 of 547 punches. Beterbiev was 121 of 688.
Bivol, 174.1 lbs of Tokmak, Kyrgystan won by scores of 116-112, 115-113 and 114-114 and is now 24-1. Beterbiev, 175 lbs of Khasavyurt, RUS is 21-1.
Parker Stops Bakole in 2 to win WBO Interim Title
Joseph Parker stopped very late replacement Martin Bakole in round 2 to win the WBO Interim Heavyweight title.
In round two, Parker landed a big overhand right to temple that slumped Bakole to the canvas. The fight was stopped with Bakole down and corner stopped the bout at 2:17
Parker, 267 lbs of Auckland, NZ is 36-3 with 24 knockouts. Bakole of the Congo, took the fight on two days notice after IBF champion Daniel DuBois fell ill, is now 21-2.
Stevenson Stops Late Replacement Padley in 9; Retains Lightweight Title
Shakur Stevenson stopped late-replacement Josh Padley in round nine to defend the WBC Lightweight title.
It was a typical Stevenson fight as he dominated the fight was his boxing against the overmatched Padley. In round seven, Stevenson turned up the gas and started to really break Padley down. Finally in round nine, Stevenson scored three knockdowns, all on body shots and the corner of Padley rescued their man and threw in the towel.
Stevenson, 134.1 lbs of Newark, NJ is 23-0 with 11 knockouts. Padley, 134 lbs of Yorkshire, ENG is 15-1.
Adames and Sheeraz Battle to Draw in Middleweight Title bout
Carlos Adames retained the WBC Middleweight title with a split draw with Hamzah Sheeraz.
In round eight, Sheeraz started to swell under his right eye. the bout did noy feature much sustained action as Adames was trying to come forward and the longer Sheeraz fought off the back foot, Each landed some good shots, but neither followed up.
Scores were 118-110 for Adames, 115-114 for Sheeraz and 114-114.
Adames landed 143 of 509 punches. Sheeraz was 135 of 490.
Adames, 158.1 lbs of Elias Pina, DR is now 24-1-1. Sheeraz, 158 lbs of Essex, ENG is 21-0-1.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. Decisions Madrimov to Retain WBC Interim Title
Vergil Ortiz Jr. retained the WBC Interim Super Welterweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Israil Madrimov.
In round two, Ortiz began to swell under both eyes. It was a fight where Ortiz was able to find Madrimov enough as Madrimov tried to move around the ring for the better part of the first nine rounds.
Ortiz landed 166 of 561 punches. Madrimov was 127 of 466.
Ortiz, 153.1 lbs of Grand Praire, TX won by scores of 117-111 and 115-113 twice and is now 23-0. Madrimov, 152.1 lbs of Khiva, UZB is 10-2-1.
Kabayel Stops Zhang in 6 to Win WBC Interim Heavyweight Title
Agit Kabayel scored a sixth round stoppage over Zhilei Zhang to win the WBC Interim Heavyweight Title
Kabayel took it Zhang for the better part of the first four rounds. Kabayel was touching Zhang to the body and coming upstairs to the head. It seemed like Zang was starting to wilt, until he landed big left counter in round five that put Kabayel on the canvas. In round six, Kabayel landed a right to the body that doubled over Zhang and the ref separated the fighters for what looked to be a knockdown. Somehow it wasn’t called that. But a moment later, it was another right that put Zhang on the canvas. Zhang tried to beat the count but was not able to at 2:29.
Kabayel, 241 lbs of Nortdrhein, GER is 26-0 with 18 knockouts. Zhang, 287.5 lbs of Zhoukou, CHI 27-3-1.
Callum Smith Decisions Buatsi in Slugfest to Capture interim Light Heavyweight Title
In a terrific action fight to start the main card, Callum Smith won a 12-round unanimous decision over Joshua Buatsi to win the WBO Interim Light Heavyweight title.
In round four, Smith was cut over his right eye. That seemed to fuel Smith as in round’s five and six, Smith hurt Buatsi with hard body shots. When it seemed that Smith was on his way to a stoppage, Buatsi hurt Smith with a big left hook in the final seconds of the frame.
It was a battle of body shots with both guys being hurt to the flank area,. The two battled down the strecth, but it was Smith who had the more telling blows.
Smith landed 272 of 716 punches. Buatsi was 247 of 606.
Smith, 174.1 lbs of Liverpool. ENG won by scores of 119-110, 116-112 and 115-113 and is now 31-2. Buatsi, 175 lbs of London is 19-1.
Mohammed Alakel remained undefeated with a six-round decision over Engel Gomez in a super featherweight fight.
Alakel, 134.1 ls of Riyadh, SA won by a 60-54 score and is now 3-0. Gomez, 132.1 lbs of Chinandega, SA is 8-43-3.
Ziyad Almaayouf remained undefeated with a six-round decision over Jonatas de Oliveira in a welterweight fight.
Almaayouf, 143.2 lbs of Riyadh, SA won by a 60-54 score and is now 7-0-1. Oliveira, 141.6 lbs of Para, BRA is 6-21.