World light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol emphasized in an exclusive interview with Telecomasia.net that he does not view Artur Beterbiev's behavior as disrespectful. After the announcement of the fight's result, Beterbiev refrained from shaking hands with the winner, despite having done so before the judges' verdict was revealed.
I didn't watch what Beterbiev did between the first and second rounds. Perhaps he received some information about a trilogy. Maybe from Turki Alalshikh, or there was something else. That's fine. You shouldn’t view Beterbiev in a negative light. That's just how he expresses his rivalry – he doesn't shake hands. Those are his principles. I have different ones: I'm willing to shake hands with every opponent, and to me it doesn't matter.
Dmitry Bivol exclusively for Telecom Asia Sport
On February 22, 2025, at a tournament in Riyadh, Dmitry Bivol won the rematch against Beterbiev by majority decision, becoming the undisputed world champion in the light heavyweight division. The judges scored the fight: 115-113, 116-112, and 114-114 after 12 rounds.
