Artur Beterbiev Next Fight: Dmitry Bivol trilogy will have to wait for the Russian

Artur Beterbiev is aiming to do something he has never done. The former undisputed light heavyweight champion will be coming back from a defeat for the first time in his professional career. The Russian lost his titles to countryman Dmitry Bivol back in February in a rematch from their October 2024 war.

Now Beterbiev has decided on an opponent for his ring return. Read on to find out the facts as we delve into Artur Beterbiev’s next fight.

After splitting their enthralling series 1-1, Beterbiev was expected to climb back through the ropes for a third match with his only pro conqueror, Bivol. While the wheels were set in motion in the spring, the fight spluttered and stalled until Beterbiev was forced to take another bout this coming November.

Bivol vacated the WBC portion of his undisputed crown back in April. The sanctioning body had ordered him to face mandatory challenger David Benavidez, the unbeaten two-time WBC super middleweight king. But Bivol gave up the belt in order to make the third Beterbiev fight, feeling that he owed Beterbiev the same chance he had been given in defeat after the first fight.

However, the saga dragged on. The pair pivoted away from the auspices of Riyadh Season, preferring a fight in their shared homeland of Russia for the trilogy bout. Turki Alalshikh approved this series of events and was happy to allow the fight to take place there without exerting a promotional claim. But then things went quiet.

The Beterbiev camp alleged that this radio silence was the fault of Bivol and his team. Marc Ramsey, Beterbiev’s trainer, spoke to Seconds Out about the delay. His verdict was damning and clear, stating, “We tried to negotiate (a) fight with Bivol now for months and he just disappear(ed).” The coach went on to say there was “more money than (Bivol) deserved” on the table, but the champion had walked away.

It is a strange turn of events. Bivol cited the Beterbiev fight as his reason for vacating the WBC title. Sceptics might say his attitude to number-one contender Benavidez is similar to Saul Canelo Alvarez’s. The flame-haired superstar was often accused of ducking his fellow Mexican at super middleweight. But Bivol has never appeared to avoid a tough fight before. The fact he has boxed Beterbiev twice, and beaten Canelo for that matter, speaks to that.

But Beterbiev was unwilling to wait forever. He is 40 and at that age, if you slow down as a fighter then you stop. So the Russian takes to the ring on November 22 against Deon Nicholson at ANB Arena in Riyadh.

The location is interesting, with Beterbiev back in the Riyadh Season fold so soon. The opponent, to be frank, is not. A 22-1 American who got blasted by former Cheavon Clarke victim Efetobor Apochi in three rounds back in 2021. The pulse does not exactly race.

But who can begrudge Beterbiev a light night’s work? Until February, he had ruled as a world champion for eight years. The mammoth puncher scored nine knockouts in 11 world title fights, with Bivol the only man to avoid being stopped. Some of those fights were torrid too. Anthony Yarde rocked Beterbiev in their Wembley Arena war. Marcus Browne put it on him in a gritty effort in Montreal. At times, Beterbiev fights like the only way out is through. You take a lot of punishment that way.

Great fighters can get old overnight. So how much risk does Nicholson pose? Could he be the first boxer ever to defeat Beterbiev outside of a world title fight? 

‘The Equalizer’ can punch, with 18 knockouts in his 20 wins. But at 35, Nicholson is fighting the first opponent on his resume that has any name value. Last time out he knocked out Devonte Williams, who had been stopped before and would be again in his next outing. Sergio Jimenez had never lost until Nicholson outpointed him. But the Mexican is 38 and has mainly fought in eight-rounders.

The Nicholson resume is full of those sorts. Javier Andino has fought recognisable faces like Mikael Lawal, Gabriel Rosado and Brian Castano. But they also all knocked him out. As did 11 other people, including Nicholson. This is the level Beterbiev’s foe has been fighting at. 

Artur Beterbiev’s next fight is essentially a warm-up. Whether it be for Bivol, for Benavidez who now holds the WBC crown or for any worthy opposition that emerges in the interim. Nicholson represents a chance to see the Russian’s skills for one of the last times. To appreciate his talent. To watch him destroy. Because whatever is next; there will not be many more Beterbiev nights to savour.

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