Dmitry Bivol didn’t get a knockout but he couldn’t have been much more dominant.
The light heavyweight and pound-for-pound champion fell outmatched by Lyndon Arthur en route to winning a shutout decision in defense of his 175-pound title on a card with Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua on Saturday in Saudi Arabia.
Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) dominated the fight from the start with his consistent jab, quick straight rights, the occasional body shot and his ability to avoid his opponent’s best punches.
Arthur (23-2, 16 KOs) jabbed and landed some powerful punches, but, fighting on his back foot for most of the fight, he was more concerned with surviving (parrying Bivol’s blows, ducking or holding) than mounting an offense. . own.
This is how Bivol was able to win round after round in a one-sided fight.
Bivol floored Arthur in the final seconds of round 11, the result of a flurry of shots capped by a vicious left hand to the body that forced Arthur to his knees. The Russian tried to finish the job in round 12 with two saves but the loser managed to stay on his feet.
All three judges scored the same, 120-107. Boxing Junkie got the same score.
The consensus 2022 Fighter of the Year, after defeating Canelo Alvarez and Gilberto Ramirez, could face fellow belt holder Artur Beterbiev for the undisputed championship next if Beterbiev beats Callum Smith on January 13.
