The highly competitive fight between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol ended with Beterbiev winning by majority decision, becoming the undisputed light-heavyweight champion. Bivol dominated the early rounds with superior footwork and quick combinations, keeping Beterbiev at a distance. However, Beterbiev adjusted his strategy in the middle rounds, targeting the body and applying relentless pressure to slow Bivol down.
In the final rounds, Beterbiev’s power made the difference, as he landed heavy shots that swung the scorecards in his favor. It was a hard-fought battle, with both fighters showing their elite skillsets.
Here’s a round-by-round breakdown of the Beterbiev vs. Bivol fight on October 12, 2024, which resulted in a majority decision win for Beterbiev:
Round 1–3: Bivol Starts Strong
Bivol controlled the early rounds with excellent footwork, maintaining distance and landing quick combinations. His jab was precise, disrupting Beterbiev’s rhythm and preventing him from closing the gap.
Round 4–6: Beterbiev Adjusts
Beterbiev began targeting Bivol’s body, slowing down his movement. He started finding success with his signature pressure, forcing Bivol into uncomfortable exchanges near the ropes.
Round 7–9: Momentum Shifts
Both fighters traded blows in competitive rounds. Beterbiev’s power shots to the head and body wore Bivol down, while Bivol kept firing back with fast combinations. Beterbiev, however, began landing more significant shots.
Round 10–12: Beterbiev Takes Over
In the final rounds, Beterbiev pressed harder, landing heavy punches that seemed to affect Bivol. Bivol stayed active but couldn’t match Beterbiev’s power. Beterbiev’s strong finish likely influenced the judges.
Final Result
The fight concluded with Beterbiev winning by majority decision, unifying the light-heavyweight division. It was a thrilling clash of styles, with Bivol’s technical precision meeting Beterbiev’s relentless power. Like any close fight, controversy and calls for robbery are abundant but as the official scorecards show, a single round would have tipped the decision the other way.
Although fans, understandably, score fights with emotions, judging an actual fight comes with a set of criteria that is left to the interpretation of the judging eyes.
Boxing matches are scored using the 10-point must system, where each round is scored by three judges. Here’s how the system works and how it might apply to a close fight like Beterbiev vs. Bivol:
- 10-9 Round: The winner of a round receives 10 points, while the opponent typically receives 9 points.
- 10-8 Round: If one boxer dominates or scores a knockdown, they may earn 10 points, while the other gets 8 points.
- Criteria: Judges assess based on:
- Effective aggression: Is the boxer landing meaningful punches while controlling the fight?
- Ring generalship: Who is dictating the pace and positioning?
- Defense: Who avoids or deflects punches better?
- Clean punches: Accurate and impactful shots.
- Close Rounds: If rounds are close, judges may differ in their assessment, leading to varied scores like split or majority decisions.
In a fight like Beterbiev vs. Bivol, Bivol might have taken early rounds through precision and movement, while Beterbiev could secure later rounds with power punches and pressure—justifying the narrow decision.
Check out the Full Card Highlights