Artur Beterbiev will fight Deon Nicholson on November 22, putting the brakes on a trilogy bout with Dmitry Bivol in Russia. The 40-year-old Russian boxer made the decision after Bivol didn't respond to offers for their third encounter.
Beterbiev, who recently lost his unbeaten record to Bivol, had been keen on settling the score. He explained his position to the media:
"Our next fight was supposed to be in Russia, you know what we're talking about, the third fight with Bivol. We were offered excellent conditions, almost impossible to refuse. For my part, I did everything possible to make the third fight take place, but my opponent chose to retire again"
The rivalry between Beterbiev and Bivol has been intense. Their first clash in October 2024 saw Beterbiev clinch a majority decision win. Bivol evened the score in February, also by majority decision.
Plans for a trilogy in Russia had gotten approval from Turki Alalshikh, president of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority. However, Bivol's silence on the matter has left questions. Some speculate he might have security concerns due to the ongoing war with Ukraine.
While Beterbiev moves on to face Nicholson, Bivol faces his own challenges. He recently gave up his WBC title to avoid a fight with David Benavidez. Now, the IBF has ordered him to defend his title against Michael Eifert. Bivol's decision on this mandate remains unclear.
Beterbiev's new opponent, Deon Nicholson, comes from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The 34-year-old has a record of 22-1 with 18 knockouts. He's been boxing professionally since 2016 but hasn't faced top-level competition. His only loss came via knockout to Efetobor Apochi in 2021.
The Beterbiev-Nicholson fight will be part of the "Night of Champions" event organized by Ring IV. It'll serve as the undercard to the main event featuring David Benavidez against Anthony Yarde.
Bookmakers will likely make Beterbiev a heavy favorite. For Nicholson, this bout represents a major step up in competition and a chance to make a name for himself on the world stage.
