Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev may yet face off for a third time.
Russian star Beterbiev defeated Bivol via majority decision in their first encounter back in October of 2024, becoming the first undisputed light-heavyweight champion of the ‘four belt era’.
Bivol got his revenge in their highly-anticipated rematch just four months later however, defeating his countryman via the same outcome, as he triumphed by majority decision at The Venue in Riyadh to level up the score and achieve his dream of becoming undisputed champion at 175lbs.
It had been suggested that the duo would lock horns in a trilogy clash last year but this never did come to fruition after Bivol suffered an injury to his back, keeping him out of action for a considerable amount of time.
In a feature with DAZN after their first 12 rounds together, Bivol admitted that the punching power of his rival was ‘just as he expected’ as he claims the 40-year-old is ‘very powerful’.
“It was exactly how I was expecting. I was expecting that it would be hard and heavy. But the jab is a nice punch. Of course. He’s powerful. Very powerful.”
Rumours of a third encounter between the Russian duo have began to circulate once again, with reports suggesting that they will settle their rivalry at some stage in 2026.
Beterbiev was actually pencilled in to make his return to the ring back in November but his non-title showdown with America’s Deon Nicholson was cancelled for reasons that remain unclear. Bivol, meanwhile, is targetting an IBF mandatory defence against Michael Eifert in March or April.
