BENGALURU/RIYADH:
International Boxing Association (IBA) president Umar Kremlev said he intended to stage a third light-heavyweight world title match between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev in Moscow after Bivol won a rematch in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
Russian Bivol avenged a previous defeat to take the undisputed light-heavyweight world title from Russian-born Canadian Beterbiev, who had won the first fight in October.
This time, Bivol won an epic rematch on a majority points decision after the judges scored the fight in Riyadh 114-114, 116-112 and 115-113.
“I think we need the third fight between Artur and Dmitry, as we have just witnessed no less than the event of the year, and we need to repeat it,” Kremlev said. “These guys are truly the best boxers in the weight division. Whatever the cost, we will bring this fight to Moscow, and we are starting the negotiations. “I envision it at Luzhniki stadium with nearly 100,000 people (in the) crowd.” Beterbiev, 40, had said he did not want a second fight but vowed to make a comeback for the third, while Bivol said he was up for any challenge if they were to fight again.
Bakole suffers swift heavyweight defeat
Congo fighter Martin Bakole’s dream of pulling off a stunning heavyweight victory over New Zealand’s Joseph Parker on just two days’ notice were shattered inside two rounds in Riyadh on Saturday.
Bakole only received the call to replace IBF champion Daniel Dubois for the fight in the Saudi capital on Thursday.
The 31-year-old arrived in the early hours of Saturday morning and the lumbering heavyweight quickly discovered the perils of not having time to adequately prepare or train.
Parker had weighed in at 19st 1lb on Friday; Bakole tipped the scales at a bulky 22st 1lb.
The African was dropped in the second round from a sharp right from Parker before the mismatch was stopped.
Dubois withdrew from facing Parker on Thursday through illness.
At that time, Bakole was in the Congo working to close a deal on a new home.
Once financial terms were agreed, he grabbed a flight to Ethiopia and then on to the Gulf, arriving in Riyadh early on Saturday.
“I want to thank the people of Saudi Arabia and my team. Martin Bakole, thank you very much for accepting the invitation and for giving me a good fight,” Parker told DAZN.
Bakole wasn’t the only fighter climbing into the Riyadh ring at short notice.
Four days ago, Josh Padley, electrician by day, boxer by night, was fitting solar panels on a house in Sheffield in northern England.