Bivol was class in defeat, as expected, and praised Beterbiev; they had shared a unique respect for each other during the months and months it took to finally get the pair in the ring. They had also shared six years and nine months as world champions before the final bell separated Bivol from his belt.

Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev battled it out in a historic light heavyweight showdown in Saudi Arabia this past weekend.