Artur Beterbiev still disagrees with the result of his rematch against Dmitry Bivol and believes he performed better in the second fight than he did in their first meeting.
The former undisputed light heavyweight champion also made it clear that he wants a third fight with Bivol and is confident he would deliver an even stronger performance if the rivalry is settled in the ring again.
“I want a rubber match. If third fight happens, I will do better than both of them. I believe I won the second fight better than the first one,” Beterbiev told the Inside Ring Show.
Beterbiev defeated Bivol by majority decision in October 2024 to become the undisputed light heavyweight champion. Four months later, Bivol gained revenge with a majority decision victory in their rematch, handing Beterbiev the first defeat of his professional career and leveling the series at one win apiece.
The two fights were among the closest championship bouts in recent years, with opinion divided among fans and media over both decisions. Beterbiev has consistently maintained that he did enough to win the rematch despite the judges awarding the fight to Bivol.
A third fight has been discussed since the rematch concluded, though no official announcement has been made. The outcome could also affect the immediate future of WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez, who has long been linked to a showdown with the winner of the Beterbiev-Bivol rivalry.
Despite the official result, Beterbiev remains convinced he did enough to win the rematch and believes his performance was stronger than in the first fight. With the rivalry tied at one victory apiece on paper, the 41-year-old is pushing for a third meeting and says he would perform even better if given another opportunity against Bivol.
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Last Updated on 2026/06/24 at 2:45 AM
