Dmitry Bivol retained his WBA light-heavyweight title after picking up a sixth round stoppage victory over Malik Zinad – and the new date for his undisputed showdown with Artur Beterbiev was officially announced.
Bivol was originally scheduled to face WBC, WBO and IBF champion Beterbiev this evening, before an injury to Beterbiev forced him to withdraw from the contest.
Zinad stepped in at short notice to replace Beterbiev in the fight, with it taking place on the Matchroom vs. Queensberry 5 on 5 card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
It was a fast start from Zinad in the opening minutes, but Bivol ended the first round in style by dropping his opponent with a big shot.
Bivol then began to go through the motions, with fans worried that it may become the same display that has seen him go the distance in his last nine contests.
The Russian proved the doubters wrong though, unleashing an onslaught in round six that forced referee Howard Foster to stop in and end the contest, earning Bivol his first TKO win since March 2018.
It was then announced that the rescheduled Bivol vs. Beterbiev fight would take place on 12th October, with Bivol delighted with the news.
“I’m happy that I won, and that I won it great. My coach and team are happy, so I’m happy also. We are professional boxers so have to change our tactic at any moment and any second. I had enough time to change my preparation from a different fighter than Beterbiev.
“I believe that my power has been there every time with me. I had no doubts. I need to be focused and ready for October 12, this is what I wanted.”
Elsewhere on the Queensberry vs. Matchroom card, Hamzah Sheeraz earned an 11th round stoppage win to extend his unbeaten record and move one step closer to a shot at the WBC middleweight title.
That win saw Sheeraz earn double points in the Queensberry vs. Matchroom scoring due to his captain status, going alongside wins for Nick Ball and Willy Hutchinson up until that point in the evening.
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