In October 2024, Beterbiev emerged victorious against Bivol. Two judges scored the fight in Beterbiev's favor, while one called it a draw. The bout marked the first time Beterbiev went the full twelve rounds in his professional career.
Before the loss, Bivol boasted a perfect 23-0 record. Now at 23-1, he's shown grace in defeat and promised to train harder for the rematch.
The light-heavyweight division has seen some exciting developments lately. David Benavidez and David Morrell have moved up from super-middleweight, shaking things up. Benavidez, with a 29-0 record and 24 KOs, now holds the WBC Interim light-heavyweight title. Morrell, an undefeated Cuban fighter with an 11-0 record and 9 KOs, has claimed the WBA Regular light-heavyweight belt.
These two rising stars will clash on February 1, 2025. There's bad blood between them, promising a high-level, competitive bout. Both Benavidez's WBC Interim title and Morrell's WBA Regular belt will be on the line.
The WBC has made an important ruling about the division's future. They've stated that the winner of the Benavidez-Morrell fight will become the mandatory challenger for the division. This means they'll have to face the victor of the Beterbiev-Bivol rematch.
"Interim champion David Benavidez will fight David Morrell on February 1. The winner will be the mandatory challenger of the division to fight the winner of Beterbiev vs. Bivol."
With these high-profile matches on the horizon, the light-heavyweight division is definitely worth keeping an eye on in the coming months.