The anticipated third bout between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev has been postponed indefinitely after it was announced on Tuesday that Beterbiev will instead face Deon Nicholson on November 22nd. This fight will headline the undercard of the Ring 4 “Night of Champions” event, which also features the bout between David Benavidez and Anthony Yarde.
Beterbiev, the former undisputed light heavyweight champion, suffered his first professional defeat to Bivol by majority decision in February. Their first meeting last October saw Beterbiev win by majority decision to claim the undisputed title.
Although both fighters initially lobbied for a trilogy fight in Russia with different promoters, supported by Torki Al-Shehri, Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, Beterbiev opted to face another opponent instead. At 40 years old, Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) is favored in the matchup against Nicholson (22-1, 18 KOs), who is relatively less known and has faced lower-tier opponents since starting his professional career in 2016.
Following the February rematch, negotiations for a third fight between Beterbiev and Bivol fell apart, with Beterbiev expressing frustration online. Meanwhile, Bivol, who vacated the WBC title rather than fight Benavidez, was mandated by the IBF to defend his title against Michael Eifert, though it remains uncertain if that fight will happen. With Beterbiev moving on to Nicholas, the future of the Bivol-Beterbiev rivalry remains unclear.
Fan Take: This development is a significant moment for fight fans as it delays what could have been a defining trilogy in the light heavyweight division. The shift in opponents could reshape the division’s landscape, potentially setting the stage for new rivalries and highlighting the unpredictability of combat sports.
