Latest news with #DmitryBivol
The Independent
06-08-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Artur Beterbiev's next opponent named as Deon Nicholson with Dmitry Bivol trilogy delayed
Artur Beterbiev is due to face Deon Nicholson next, with his trilogy fight against Dmitry Bivol escaping him for now. In October, Beterbiev won a razor-close fight with Bivol to become the undisputed light-heavyweight champion, handing his fellow Russian a first professional loss. Then, in February, Bivol returned the favour, winning another tense fight to take all the belts from Beterbiev, who suffered his first pro defeat. Bivol, 34, later relinquished the WBC title to prioritise a third clash with Beterbiev, 40, over a defence against mandatory challenger David Benavidez. However, Bivol vs Beterbiev 3 will not be next anyway. The Ring, the magazine owned by Saudi boxing matchmaker Turki Alalshikh, has reported that Beterbiev will face Nicholson in Riyadh on 22 November. That bout is due to take place on the same card as Benavidez's fight with Anthony Yarde, in which Benavidez will defend the WBC light-heavyweight belt, having been elevated from interim champion after Bivol gave up the official strap. Beterbiev will enter his contest against Nicholson with a pro record of 21-1 (20 KOs), with Bivol being his only opponent not to suffer a stoppage by the veteran. Meanwhile, Nicholson has a record of 22-1 (18 KOs). The 34-year-old American beat Devonne Williams last time out, stopping him in the fourth round in June.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Boxing mid-year awards: The best fight, knockout, upset and more through 2025's first 6 months
It's been a busy first six months in the boxing calendar, filled with unforgettable moments. From Dmitry Bivol's superb undisputed clash with Artur Beterbiev — and the stacked undercard that came with it — to Gervonta Davis' now-infamous knee no-call controversy, to Chris Eubank Jr.'s dramatic victory over Conor Benn following his Hall of Fame father's surprise grand entrance, the sport has already given us plenty to talk about in 2025. With this fight week being quieter than most, the Uncrowned crew decided it was the perfect time to look back and celebrate the best of the year so far — from standout fighters and iconic bouts to brutal knockouts and shocking upsets. Advertisement Given how much has happened, several members of our boxing team — Darshan Desai, Alan Dawson, Lewis Watson and Jake Donovan — couldn't always agree on just one winner per category. So, where debate reigned, we've included multiple picks. Without further ado, here are our mid-year boxing standouts across five key categories. Fight of the Year: Isaac Cruz vs. Angel Fierro & Kenshiro Teraji vs. Seigo Yuri Akui Alan Dawson: Hey, kids. Do you like violence? Mexican warriors Isaac Cruz (27-3-1, 18 KOs) and Angel Fierro (23-3-2, 18 KOs) delivered just that this past February, and will do so again in their July 19 rematch on the Mario Barrios vs. Manny Pacquiao undercard. Advertisement Cruz's promoter Sean Gibbons compared the first installment of the Cruz-Fierro rivalry to Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward, as it was so spectacular. They continually cracked one another with their most powerful punches from the opening bell, from chin-shattering uppercuts to soul-destroying body shots. Cruz almost dropped Fierro in the fourth round with a right hand he lasered onto his opponent's skull, buckling his legs by the ropes. As the rounds progressed, Fierro responded by throwing more punches in bunches, with both men combining for an absurd 1,410 shots by the end of the fight. If any of your friends or family were curious about combat sports, Cruz vs. Fierro is precisely the kind of chaos that would either pull them in and ensure they'd never leave, or push them away, never to return. Advertisement For us, this is why we watch the fights. It was an edge-of-the-seat thriller — and we get to see it a second time later this month. Jake Donovan: Kenshiro Teraji realized very early that his showdown with Seigo Yuri Akui would be nothing like his previous unification bout. Then he realized very late that he needed to produce something dramatic to prevail in their WBC/WBA flyweight title showdown on March 13 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan. By that point, boxing fans sensed they were watching something special. Teraji (25-1, 16 KOs) upped the ante and provided all viewers with a lasting memory. Trailing on two cards through 11 rounds, Teraji finally got to Akui (21-3-1, 11 KOs) when it mattered most. He was forced to fight off the back foot at points and wade through a swarm of power shots from his determined countryman. That changed early in the 12th and final round. Teraji shifted from trading with Akui to gunning for the knockout. It came at a point when Akui already went all in and was running on empty at the worst possible time. Teraji landed a combination along the ropes before a final right hand left Akui defenseless in the center of the ring. Referee Katsuhiko Nakamura jumped in to rescue Akui with just 89 seconds to go on the night. Advertisement The matchup marked just the third-ever unification bout at the time between reigning titlists from Japan — a select group since joined by Junto Nakatani vs. Ryosuke Nishida. Teraji has now prevailed in each of his two entries on that short list; he previously tore through then-unbeaten Hiroto Kyoguchi to unify the WBC and WBA titles at junior flyweight in perhaps the signature performance of his thrilling career. His win over Akui produced a memorable 11-plus rounds that boxing fans will cherish for years to come. Event of the Year: Chris Eubank Jr vs. Conor Benn Darshan Desai: Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn's British middleweight classic could've easily joined Teraji vs. Akui and Cruz vs. Fierro as a pick for Fight of the Year, but that would've been downplaying it. After all, Eubank vs. Benn was more than just a fight — it was a Hollywood-esque drama. Advertisement If you only consumed the 12 terrific rounds between the pair, you'd have been thoroughly entertained, but you would've left without the full experience. To truly admire the action that unfolded on April 26 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, fans would've had to follow the rivalry back to 1990. This was the year when Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn crossed paths for the first time for the WBO middleweight title in Birmingham after a fierce buildup that captivated the nation. In a bout still considered by many to be the best in British boxing history, Eubank Sr. stopped Benn to dethrone him of his championship. Three years later, Benn appeared to have evened the score against Eubank Sr. in their super middleweight unification contest, however a debatable split draw meant the Eubank family still had the edge in this blood feud. Talks for a third fight between the pair took place multiple times in the mid-'90s, but a trilogy never materialized. That was until their sons, Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn, put pen to paper in August 2022 to renew hostilities in a feud spanning more than 30 years. The fight was billed as "Born Rivals" with their father's famous fights lurking in the background of the artwork — it was a nostalgic moment for British boxing fans. No event in 2025 has been as memorable as Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn. (Mark Robinson via Getty Images) Fans should've had a memorable night. But instead, we were left with a pair of failed drug tests and two years of muddied waters. The less said about that, the better. Advertisement When the fight was finally rescheduled this year, it had a different feel to it. It was a contest stained with the ugly poison of drug scandals that damage the sport on a daily basis. But with boxing being as fickle as it is, Eubank Jr.'s egg-slap of Benn at their launch press conference propelled the hype train into full swing again. It turned out to be a buildup to remember and a show that had the common man in Britain glued to their television screens. The interest reached an all-time high when a cacophony of noise accompanied Eubank Sr.'s shock arrival at the venue just hours before the main event, despite his claims throughout the lead-up that he wouldn't be present at the fight. "He's here! And the crowd are going wild — father and son reunited, simply the best," commentator Adam Smith shouted during the iconic moment the Eubank duo arrived at the venue. Eubank Jr. and Benn had a lot to live up to — and oh boy, did they exceed it. The 60,000-plus fans in Tottenham loved every one of the 36 minutes they watched. That night showed the importance of a raucous, passionate atmosphere at a time when many fights are heading to the Middle East for financial reasons. It simply would not have been the same fight anywhere else but in Britain. The crowd, in many ways, made the night. Japan's Junto Nakatani is 2-0 already in 2025. (STR via Getty Images) Fighter of the Year: Junto Nakatani & Dmitry Bivol Lewis Watson: Stoppage wins over David Cuellar Contreras and Ryosuke Nishida in the first half of 2025 have propelled Japanese superstar Junto Nakatani up boxing's mythical pound-for-pound standings — and rightly so. Advertisement The three-weight world champion is fast becoming a box-office draw outside of his native Japan, and after a five-fight stretch of dominant wins at bantamweight inside the distance, the 27-year-old is setting his sights on 122-pound waters and the awaiting "The Monster," Naoya Inoue. The southpaw hits hard, controls the distance beautifully, and is intelligent enough to gauge when to instigate his attacks most effectively. And with his best years arguably ahead of him, the sky's the limit for the man they call "Big Bang." Perhaps there have been bigger individual wins for fighters so far in 2025, but the combined success of Nakatani besting two top-10 bantamweights at a relative canter is more than worthy of this half-year award. Dmitry Bivol may have boxing's biggest win of the year so far. (Mark Robinson via Getty Images) Darshan Desai: Nakatani has two impressive wins in the first half of 2025, but Dmitry Bivol's triumph over Artur Beterbiev makes him the frontrunner for Fighter of the Year. Advertisement While Bivol has only competed once compared to Nakatani's two appearances, Bivol's win came as a betting underdog over Uncrowned's No. 4 male boxer pound-for-pound Beterbiev at the time. Nakatani was a heavy favorite in both his contests against divisional top-10 opponents. Bivol's masterful display against Beterbiev in February saw him avenge his lone career loss and capture boxing's undisputed light heavyweight world titles. He didn't have it all his own way, either. At one point in the middle rounds, Beterbiev had won four consecutive frames and it looked as if it was going to be his night once again. Bivol wasn't jabbing as fluidly as he was in the first fight, nor was he controlling the distance with his movement. Beterbiev was dictating the pace and pushing Bivol back, as he had done to all of his previous opponents. But as great champions do, Bivol found a way to come back when the chips were stacked against him. Beterbiev began to tire from the eighth round onward, and Bivol had another gear waiting for him. Bivol's sharp counter-punching, combinations and overall volume guided him to a majority decision win. Advertisement Bivol is Uncrowned's No. 4 pound-for-pound active male boxer and looks headed for a trilogy with Beterbiev, Uncrowned's No. 6 best pound-for-pound boxer. Should Bivol make it 2-1 in his rivalry with Beterbiev, expect to find him atop this list once more in December. KO of the Year: Brian Norman Jr. KO-5 Jin Sasaki Lewis Watson: Brian Norman Jr.'s explosive one-punch knockout of Jin Sasaki rubber-stamped a perfect night's work for the WBO welterweight champion. A highlight-reel stoppage was just the tonic for the 24-year-old as he begins stamping his feet a little louder in the 147-pound division, with the whole weight class waking up to that devastating left hand. Advertisement Norman left his Japanese opponent out cold on his back in the middle of the canvas, as a silenced home crowd looked on in horror. Without meaning to trivialize the horrors of the aftermath of this fight, the fact that Sasaki lost memory of the previous six weeks of his life following this knockout says all you need to know about the impact of Norman's brutal attack. The image of Norman retreating to the neutral corner, looking down at a motionless Sasaki center-ring, will live long in the memory of those inside the Tokyo venue. Upset of the Year: Rolly Romero UD-12 Ryan Garcia & Jose Armando Resendiz SD-12 Caleb Plant Alan Dawson: One of the most popular fighters in combat sports, Ryan Garcia, was the -1200 favorite on BetMGM ahead of the Rolly Romero fight on May 2. Advertisement Garcia had everything to become a superstar — good looks, his fast fists, and the knockout power he could generate from his left hook. But then came along Rolly Romero, who had oft been overlooked, to wreak havoc on Turki Alalshikh's plans to pair Garcia against Devin Haney in a mega-rematch later in the year. Few observers outside of Romero's coaching staff expected the kind of disciplined performance that Romero pulled off, but the underdog dropped Garcia in shocking fashion in the second round, and then rarely put a foot — or shot — wrong the rest of the way, as the three ringside judges rewarded his work with a lopsided unanimous decision win in a shocking upset. It's Rolly's world right now, and we're all just living in it. Advertisement Jake Donovan: The signs were there if you paid close enough attention. Fighters always insist that they never look beyond the task in front of them, no matter how alluring are the plans ahead. This matchup was a simple formula for Caleb Plant; defeat Armando Resendiz to secure a grudge match with Jermall Charlo, who did his part with a stoppage win on the May 31 undercard at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas. The buildup to the event was mild, particularly with the lack of animosity between Plant and Resendiz. That suddenly changed during fight week, though not through any back-and-forth. It was almost as if Plant (23-3, 14 KOs) needed to manifest a rivalry, while Resendiz (16-2, 11 KOs) never took the bait. That energy spilled over into the ring. Plant was fighting in his adopted hometown, but it was Mexico's Resendiz who received rabid support from Mexican and Mexican-American fans on hand. A competitive fight through six quickly transitioned into the year's biggest upset on paper, as Resendiz — a +1100 betting underdog — worked Plant's body and piled up rounds on the scorecards. Advertisement Two of the three judges got it right in the end, even if the outcome was all wrong for those banking on a Plant vs. Charlo showdown later this year. Two fights removed from a knockout loss to then-unbeaten prospect Elijah Garcia, Resendiz was suddenly on top of the world as he left Plant at a career crossroads.
The Independent
06-06-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Conor Wallace is ready to ‘shoot for the stars' as he prepares for Dylan Colin fight
Conor Wallace will return to the ring this weekend to take on Dylan Colin as chief support to his stablemate Jai Opetaia vs Claudio Squeo in Australia. The Irish-born Aussie had a busy 2024, fighting three times. He outpointed Jerome Pampellone between two knockouts over Jack Gipp and Asemahle Wellem. Wallace has had a brief lay-off after having surgery on his hand but is happy for the time off and feels as though he will be back better than ever as he continues to rebuild from a loss to Leti Leti in 2021, which he avenged via knockout eighteen months later to get back on track. Wallace said: '[After a couple of hand surgeries] I've gone from strength to strength. Having that loss to Leti Leti - then rematching him and knocking him out is probably the best thing that could have happened. I got that loss out of the way, it made me hungrier. I wasn't an undefeated prospect anymore.' Dmitry Bivol vs Artur Beterbiev trilogy fight - with many top-ranked fighters waiting for their opportunity. Wallace is ranked number two by the IBF and number seven by both the WBC and WBO. He said the state of the division is frustrating for the top fighters at the moment due to the uncertainty surrounding the belts. But he doesn't want to focus on that - instead relishing the opportunity to fight again and stay ready for any opportunities that may come. He said, 'It's frustrating, we have done all this good work to get to number two in the IBF.' He added: 'It is what it is, all that stuff is out of my control. My job is to stay focused, and I've got a great team around me, and I'm happy to be given the chance to stay active' Having only fought in Australia so far, Wallace has gone through all the top opposition domestically at 175 lbs and is ready to take the next step to fight internationally because he has nothing left to prove at the national level. Wallace said: 'I can't get any higher [ranked] than I am without fighting an international opponent. I've taken the risk many times in Australia with Jack Gipp and even fought the South African guy [Asemahle Wellem]. I've got everything to lose and nothing to gain in those fights.' He continued: 'We are happy to go wherever for the big fights, we have done all the hard work to get into the position I am now, so the main thing is to beat whoever they put in front of me, and no matter where that is, we will go.' The Aussie said he will fight anyone to achieve his world title dream sooner rather than later, and is not overlooking Colin, but represents the next step on his journey to the top of the light-heavyweight division. Wallace said: 'My goal is to win a world title, and I'll fight whoever for that.' He added on his future: 'There is only so long you can wait. Hopefully, everything goes to plan. I'm not overlooking this opponent, but hopefully we can get through him, and hopefully we can get a big fight towards the end of the year. You've got to shoot for the stars.'
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Callum Smith denied world title shot at Dmitry Bivol by WBO
British light heavyweight Callum Smith will have to wait for his shot at the WBO world title, despite his status as a mandatory challenger. Liverpudlian Smith earned his status as a mandatory fight for current WBO belt holder Dmitry Bivol after defeating Joshua Buatsi in February to become the organisation's interim champion at light heavyweight. Bivol became undisputed champion at 175 pounds when he defeated Artur Beterbiev in a rematch, setting up the possibility of a rubber match between the two greats of the light heavyweight division. Watch over 150 boxing events a year live on DAZN - subscribe now A third fight has been pursued by Bivol and Beterbiev, with the WBO agreeing that Bivol does not need to defend his title against Smith in order to allow the trilogy match to be made. Smith had made a formal request to the WBO to enforce his mandatory status. Taking to Twitter, WBO president Gustavo Olivieri shared: 'The WBO Championships Committee has resolved that it is in the best interests of boxing and, most importantly, the fighters themselves to permit the highly anticipated Beterbiev/Bivol Trilogy to proceed as planned. Accordingly, this decision overrides the enforcement of the WBO mandatory obligation in the Light Heavyweight Division.' The WBO also stated that they were in no position to enforce the obligation, as they were behind the IBF in the rotation for mandatory challengers. That is in stark contrast to the WBC, who stripped Bivol of his title after he chose to pursue a trilogy fight with Beterbiev over facing David Benavidez. Olivieri explained: 'Furthermore, even under the assumption that the WBO mandatory is due, the established rotation system agreement among the recognised sanctioning bodies dictates that the IBF mandatory is next in line. The WBO will respect and adhere to such order, ensuring alignment with the agreed rotational framework. As a result, Interim Champion Callum Smith will retain his status as the WBO mandatory challenger and, in the interim, is authorised to participate in voluntary bouts.' Whilst the IBF has not enforced its mandatory status since 2021, the WBO believes it is in the best interests of the sport to allow a third match between Bivol and Beterbiev to go ahead. The WBO president continued: 'This ruling underscores the exceptional significance of the Beterbiev/Bivol trilogy, a bout widely regarded as one of the most compelling matchups in contemporary boxing between two of the sport's elite competitors.' Smith is now searching for an opponent, with reports that talks have begun with fellow Briton Anthony Yarde for a bout in August. However, no deal has yet been reached. Olivieri went on to confirm that if Yarde was to be victorious over Smith, then he would become the new interim champion, and as such, the mandatory challenger for the WBO light heavyweight title.
Campaign ME
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Campaign ME
Here's Campaign Middle East's Saudi ‘Work' picks
Campaign Middle East features an annual double-page spread of selected Work from the Kingdom in its Saudi Arabia Report. Here is the 2025 round-up of some 'made-for-KSA, by-KSA' campaigns, featuring Saudi work from Riyadh Season, Rexona Arabia and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, HungerStation, Foodics, Budget Saudi, Beyond ONE – Virgin Mobile KSA, Disney+ MENA, Golden Chicken, AROYA Cruises and Abdul Latif Jameel Motors Toyota. The Last Crescendo – Riyadh Season Agency: BigTime Creative Shop This cinematic film aims to capture the drama of the highly anticipated rematch between light-heavyweight boxers Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. Set in a grand European opera house, The Last Crescendo tells the story of the two boxers through three dramatic acts. Directed by Alan Masferrer and shot over four days in Serbia, the film blends the art of opera with the raw drama of boxing. The soundtrack, composed by Philip Kay, was written specifically for the film, adding another layer of emotional depth. Quit Screens To Scenes – Budget Saudi Agency: FP7 McCann Saudi To redefine how people celebrate special moments, Budget Saudi launched a campaign to encourage Saudi audiences to take virtual expressions of celebration into reality. The campaign invited consumers to share details on special moments, whether a birthday, promotion or a personal achievement. Those who celebrated online were brought together by Budget for a real-world celebration supported by emoji-style hearts, claps and confetti. The car rental company also leveraged influencer Abdulaziz Bakr, someone who is typically only seen on a screen, to the activation in an effort to foster a deeper sense of community beyond the screen. We're Coming – Rexona Arabia x Saudi Arabian Football Federation Agency: ‿and us To celebrate the unstoppable determination of the Saudi Arabia Women's National Football Team, this campaign showcases the team's grit, resilience and relentless pursuit of their goals as they continue to break boundaries and inspire a new generation of athletes in the Kingdom. Narrated through the voices of young girls who dream of a future in football along with the National Team themselves, the campaign underscores a collective vision: the Saudi Women's National Team is not stopping until they achieve whatever they set out to achieve. Social Feed – HungerStation Agency: VML Dubai HungerStation introduced Social Feed – an AI-powered feature that allows users to turn any food post on social media into an orderable dish. The campaign taps into changing consumer behaviours, particularly the influence of social media on food choices. It also builds on HungerStation's ongoing efforts to rethink how users engage with food delivery. By blending social media habits with ordering, HungerStation created a platform where food seen online is now part of its menu. 10 Years – Foodics Agency: Foodies Block The cloud-based restaurant management tech and payments platform celebrated 10 years through this campaign by prompting audiences towards nostalgic moments with reflections on how restaurants operated 10 years ago. 'Remember when paper was used to take orders?'; 'remember waiting in long lines just to place an order?'; 'remember paying in cash and struggling to find spare change?' With a teaser reel followed by a brand video and four short-form social media videos, which were amplified through Saudi influencers, Foodics organically gathered more than 3.2 million impressions within the first week of the campaign's launch. Switch – Beyond ONE Group – Virgin Mobile KSA Agency: Swing This relatable integrated campaign promotes Virgin Mobile KSA's Switch Postpaid Plan by drawing inspiration from the daily inefficiencies that have consumers overpaying for underused experiences. The brand took a comedic route to bring its brand values of heartfelt service, delightful surprise, smart disruption and insatiable curiosity to life. Three hero films served as the centrepiece for the campaign, accompanied by a media mix of social media, digital-out-of-home, digital platforms and point-of-sale placements to ensure maximum visibility and impact. The Curse of Anything – Golden Chicken Agency: Tarek Nour Saudi Arabia This campaign taps into the universal problem of deciding what's for dinner, and the most common response to that question from friends, colleagues, and family: 'Anything!' While it might seem like a straightforward answer, the response frequently leads to a stressful and overwhelming decision-making process, especially for young mothers and busy individuals. To address this, Golden Chicken positions its products as a solution, simplifying the decision and providing the perfect meal solution. Watch and Live The Stories – Disney+ MENA Agency: Science & Sunshine To tie together Saudi storytelling with iconic entertainment options available on the streaming platform, Disney+ MENA released three short videos on its Disney+ Saudi Arabia Instagram account, inviting audiences to showcase how mainstream entertainment becomes a part of everyday Saudi households. Picking from six of its top performing content offerings, the campaign showcases fine-dining kabsa inspired by Disney's Ratatouille and FX's The Bear, Wolverine-inspired toothbrush claws, and a father singing beloved Disney tunes. From dallah coffee pitchers and folded ghutras by the door, every scene hints at how the streaming platform is immersed in Saudi culture and households. Toyota Reclaims Toyota – Abdul Latif Jameel Motors Toyota Agency: Serviceplan Experience To address a digital challenge in Saudi Arabia, where local consumers commonly search for their vehicles using informal Arabic nicknames (terms the company's official website couldn't use), Abdul Latif Jameel Motors Toyota leveraged off-page SEO techniques to turn a technical obstacle into a creative breakthrough. Serviceplan Experience developed an off-page SEO strategy that placed the informal nicknames into backlinks and anchor tags. Collaborating with trusted publishers and bloggers, the team ensured these high-volume terms linked back to Abdul Latif Jameel Motors Toyota's website. Yalla, AROYA Cruises – AROYA Cruises Agency: Social Clinic Former Real Madrid football star Cristiano Ronaldo, who now plays for Saudi football club Al-Nassr FC, has been spotted in a new advertising campaign, alongside his partner Georgina Rodríguez, for AROYA Cruises, the cruise line owned by Cruise Saudi, a PIF-funded company. The campaign took a cinematic, playful approach – offering a glimpse into how Ronaldo and Rodríguez turn a regular day at home into a spark of cruise excitement. To see the print version of the Saudi Work section, check out page 16-17 here.
