Tyson Fury still views Deontay Wilder as the most powerful puncher he’s ever faced.
[autotag]Tyson Fury[/autotag] still views [autotag]Deontay Wilder[/autotag] as the most powerful puncher he’s ever faced.
Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) was knocked down in Round 12 of his WBC heavyweight title fight with Wilder in 2018, when he miraculously got up after being rendered flat on his back motionless. The pair battled to a split draw, but Fury was able to close out their chapter when he finished Wilder by TKO in their rematch and by KO in their trilogy bout.
Fury was also knocked down in his boxing match vs. former UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] last October, but he rallied to win by controversial split decision. Fury says there’s no comparison when rating his former foes’ punching power.
“Deontay, by far,” Fury said on “The Stomping Ground.” “Francis Ngannou is a big puncher, but I wasn’t really troubled by any of his punches. It wasn’t like it was dynamite every time he hit me and I was wobbled or anything, no. Just one shot to the back of the head, and that was it. So, Wilder is still the biggest puncher I’ve ever been in the ring with, by a mile.”
WBC heavyweight champion Fury will face Oleksandr Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs), who holds the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles, in an undisputed championship fight May 18 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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Watch the highlights of Joseph Parker vs. Deontay Wilder at Day of Reckoning.
[autotag]Deontay Wilder[/autotag] surprised many Saturday night, and not in a good way.
The former heavyweight boxing champion lost a unanimous decision to Joseph Parker in the co-main event of Day of Reckoning, which took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
You can watch the highlights of Wilder’s defeat in the video above.
With the loss, Wilder is now 1-3 in his most recent four fights, a run that saw him lose the WBC title to Tyson Fury. Wilder was expected by many to defeat Parker and set up a superfight against Anthony Joshua, who won in the main event of the card.
Weekend Review: Anthony Joshua sizzled and Deontay Wilder fizzled on a big night of boxing Saturday in Saudi Arabia.
A critical look at the past week in boxing
BIGGEST WINNER
Anthony Joshua
No on is surprised that Anthony Joshua defeated Otto Wallin on the massive card Saturday night in Saudi Arabia. The former heavyweight champion has far superior tools to that of his Swedish opponent, which resulted in a fifth-round knockout. It was the manner in which Joshua (27-3, 24 KOs) carried himself that was an eye opener. He fought with the confidence and purpose of an elite fighter who believes in himself and has found peace, which doesn’t seem to have been the case since the days before he was knocked out by Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019. Of course, we shouldn’t get carried away. Again, Wallin (26-2, 14 KOs) was a limited threat. And Joshua wasn’t forced to overcome any sort of adversity, which would be the ultimate test of his current mettle. Still, the Joshua we saw on Saturday – under new trainer Ben Davison – looked a lot like the Olympic gold medalist who became the top big man in the mid-2010s. We can’t dismiss his loss to Ruiz and back-to-back setbacks against the gifted Oleksandr Usyk, which will always be a part of Joshua’s story. We can say that he appears to be writing a new chapter, one in which he just might be a dominating heavyweight once again.
BIGGEST WINNER II
Joseph Parker
Parker (34-3, 23 KOs) had the skill and experience to execute an excellent game plan perfectly. The former heavyweight titleholder didn’t overwhelm Deontay Wilder in spite of the one-sided scores in his favor in the co-feature in Riyadh. He landed a total of 89 punches, seven per round, according to CompuBox. That isn’t exactly a beat down. No, the beauty of his performance was his ability to avoid Wilder’s dangerous right hand and do enough offensively to win round after round, just as trainer Andy Lee drew it up. Parker simply stayed out of Wilder’s range or crowded him inside, which made it difficult for Wilder to get in position to land what had become his inevitable knockout blow. Parker took only 39 shots. Meanwhile, he found opportune, relatively safe moments to land his own punches. His overhand right was the best punch in the fight. Thus, Parker was able to tame one of the most feared fighters of the era and reassert himself as a legitimate championship contender. The 31-year-old Kiwi couldn’t have had a much better night.
BIGGEST LOSER
Deontay Wilder
Have we seen the last of Deontay Wilder? Richard Pelham / Getty Images
Wilder (43-3-1, 42 KOs) is anything but a loser despite what you might hear or read on social media. He did exactly what we all strive to do in our careers: He made the most of his ability. He came late to boxing, meaning he has never had the fundamental foundation of most of his opponents. Still, he won a bronze medal in the Olympics, had a five-year reign as world champion as a professional, gained a reputation as one of the hardest punchers of all time, put Tyson Fury down four times in three fights, gave Fury absolute hell in their third meeting and will one day be inducted into the International Hall of Fame. And he won’t be defined by his performance against Parker. I always believed that one day Wilder would fail to land his mammoth right hand or another big shot and lose a decision to a good opponent as a result. To his credit, it happened 15 years into his career. He wasn’t fooling people all this time, as some have suggested. We all knew what his limitations were. His ability to overcome them was what made him so impressive. If he’s finished – and perhaps he would be wise to retire at 38 – he should be proud of what he accomplished.
RABBIT PUNCHES
More thoughts on Joshua and Wilder: Where did Joshua’s inner tranquility come from? I suspect he has clicked with his countryman Davison, for one thing. And I believe he has a different perspective on his career. The worst has already happened. He was knocked out and now has three setbacks, which, as it turned out, didn’t destroy his career. The pressure is off. He can now fight to win instead of fighting not to lose, the latter of which is no way to approach a fight. I don’t know whether he can beat Fury or Usyk, although his second meeting with the Ukrainian was close. I simply believe that self doubt wouldn’t play as big of a role as it has in the past. … Wilder’s critics have suggested that Parker is the best opponent he faced other than Fury, their way of saying he was exposed against a genuine threat. Again, a fighter isn’t exposed if you understand his limitations beforehand. And while Parker might be his second most formidable foe he’s not that much better than Luis Ortiz, who Wilder defeated twice. And let’s not forget: Wilder had fought less than one full round in more than two years going into the fight. I wonder how he would’ve fared if he had been as busy as Parker, who had four fights this year. Last thing on Wilder: Will he be remembered as a great fighter? No. Will he be remembered as one of the most exciting? Absolutely. …
Filip Hrgovic (17-0, 14 KOs) could end up as a big winner as a result of the show in Riyadh. The rising Croatian heavyweight did his job on the card, stopping ridiculously overmatched Mark De Mori (41-3-2, 36 KOs) in the first round. Then Parker did him a favor by upsetting Wilder. That could land Hrgovic a meeting with Joshua, who had been set to fight Wilder if things went well on Saturday. If Hrgovic gets that fight and wins – a big if – he will move to the front of line among those jockeying for a shot at a world title. … Cruiserweight beltholder Jai Opetaia (24-0, 19 KOs) didn’t give us much of a chance to admire his all-around ability on the Joshua-Wallin and Parker-Wilder card, stopping Ellis Zorro (17-1, 7 KOs) with a monstrous left hand that left an immobile Zorro with his head resting on the bottom rope in the first round. At least Opetaia made a strong impression. The Aussie’s mission now is to take the next step in his career, which would be a victory over a big-name opponent. But who? Gilberto Ramirez (45-1, 30 KOs) might be the most intriguing possibility at the moment. The durable Mexican is a former 168-pound titleholder who failed in a bid to take Dmitry Bivol’s 175-pound title and is now campaigning as a 200-pounder. He outpointed Joe Smith Jr. in October. Ramirez is high profile enough to bring attention to the matchup and could give Opetaia problems. …
Also on the Joshua-Wallin and Parker-Wilder card … Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) had no trouble with Lydon Arthur (23-2, 16 KOs), winning a shutout decision in defense of his 175-pound title. No surprise there. The winner’s inability to take out his counterpart probably was a disappointment in the Bivol camp but it doesn’t detract much from another dominating performance. His skill level is somewhere above the stratosphere. I hope a meeting with Artur Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs) for the undisputed championship comes next, assuming Beterbiev beats Callum Smith on Jan. 13. I think Bivol will win that bout because he’s a better all-around fighter than Beterbiev but it will he’s ultimate test. … Daniel Dubois (20-2, 19 KOs) gave arguably the strongest performance of his career, outworking and then stopping 333-pound Jarrell Miller in the 10th and final round of a grueling fight. The winner outlanded his opponent 208-107, according to CompuBox. The victory was a significant step back into title contention after his knockout loss against Usyk, in which some fans believe he quit. Meanwhile, it’s difficult to be sympathetic to Miller, who has failed two drug tests. …
Agit Kabayel (24-0, 16 KOs) turned in an impressive upset, stopping hulking Arslanbek Makhmudov (18-1, 17 KOs) in the fourth round of their heavyweight matchup to raise his profile. It was Kabayel’s all-around ability vs. Makhumdov’s brawn and power, which turned out to be a mismatch. … Talented heavyweight contender Frank Sanchez (24-0, 17 KOs) put Junior Fa (20-3, 11 KOs) away in the seventh round, just another impressive performance from the Cuban. He’s clearly ready to take on a next-level opponent. … And, finally, my thoughts and prayers go out to 92-year-old Hall of Fame TV analyst and accomplished journalist Larry Merchant, who reportedly was rushed to the hospital and placed in a critical care unit this week. No further details were available. Merchant is the best analyst ever. And those in the business who have had the privilege of spending time with him cherish his friendship.
Weekend Review: Anthony Joshua sizzled and Deontay Wilder fizzled on a big night of boxing Saturday in Saudi Arabia.
A critical look at the past week in boxing
BIGGEST WINNER
Anthony Joshua
No on is surprised that Anthony Joshua defeated Otto Wallin on the massive card Saturday night in Saudi Arabia. The former heavyweight champion has far superior tools to that of his Swedish opponent, which resulted in a fifth-round knockout. It was the manner in which Joshua (27-3, 24 KOs) carried himself that was an eye opener. He fought with the confidence and purpose of an elite fighter who believes in himself and has found peace, which doesn’t seem to have been the case since the days before he was knocked out by Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019. Of course, we shouldn’t get carried away. Again, Wallin (26-2, 14 KOs) was a limited threat. And Joshua wasn’t forced to overcome any sort of adversity, which would be the ultimate test of his current mettle. Still, the Joshua we saw on Saturday – under new trainer Ben Davison – looked a lot like the Olympic gold medalist who became the top big man in the mid-2010s. We can’t dismiss his loss to Ruiz and back-to-back setbacks against the gifted Oleksandr Usyk, which will always be a part of Joshua’s story. We can say that he appears to be writing a new chapter, one in which he just might be a dominating heavyweight once again.
BIGGEST WINNER II
Joseph Parker
Parker (34-3, 23 KOs) had the skill and experience to execute an excellent game plan perfectly. The former heavyweight titleholder didn’t overwhelm Deontay Wilder in spite of the one-sided scores in his favor in the co-feature in Riyadh. He landed a total of 89 punches, seven per round, according to CompuBox. That isn’t exactly a beat down. No, the beauty of his performance was his ability to avoid Wilder’s dangerous right hand and do enough offensively to win round after round, just as trainer Andy Lee drew it up. Parker simply stayed out of Wilder’s range or crowded him inside, which made it difficult for Wilder to get in position to land what had become his inevitable knockout blow. Parker took only 39 shots. Meanwhile, he found opportune, relatively safe moments to land his own punches. His overhand right was the best punch in the fight. Thus, Parker was able to tame one of the most feared fighters of the era and reassert himself as a legitimate championship contender. The 31-year-old Kiwi couldn’t have had a much better night.
BIGGEST LOSER
Deontay Wilder
Have we seen the last of Deontay Wilder? Richard Pelham / Getty Images
Wilder (43-3-1, 42 KOs) is anything but a loser despite what you might hear or read on social media. He did exactly what we all strive to do in our careers: He made the most of his ability. He came late to boxing, meaning he has never had the fundamental foundation of most of his opponents. Still, he won a bronze medal in the Olympics, had a five-year reign as world champion as a professional, gained a reputation as one of the hardest punchers of all time, put Tyson Fury down four times in three fights, gave Fury absolute hell in their third meeting and will one day be inducted into the International Hall of Fame. And he won’t be defined by his performance against Parker. I always believed that one day Wilder would fail to land his mammoth right hand or another big shot and lose a decision to a good opponent as a result. To his credit, it happened 15 years into his career. He wasn’t fooling people all this time, as some have suggested. We all knew what his limitations were. His ability to overcome them was what made him so impressive. If he’s finished – and perhaps he would be wise to retire at 38 – he should be proud of what he accomplished.
RABBIT PUNCHES
More thoughts on Joshua and Wilder: Where did Joshua’s inner tranquility come from? I suspect he has clicked with his countryman Davison, for one thing. And I believe he has a different perspective on his career. The worst has already happened. He was knocked out and now has three setbacks, which, as it turned out, didn’t destroy his career. The pressure is off. He can now fight to win instead of fighting not to lose, the latter of which is no way to approach a fight. I don’t know whether he can beat Fury or Usyk, although his second meeting with the Ukrainian was close. I simply believe that self doubt wouldn’t play as big of a role as it has in the past. … Wilder’s critics have suggested that Parker is the best opponent he faced other than Fury, their way of saying he was exposed against a genuine threat. Again, a fighter isn’t exposed if you understand his limitations beforehand. And while Parker might be his second most formidable foe he’s not that much better than Luis Ortiz, who Wilder defeated twice. And let’s not forget: Wilder had fought less than one full round in more than two years going into the fight. I wonder how he would’ve fared if he had been as busy as Parker, who had four fights this year. Last thing on Wilder: Will he be remembered as a great fighter? No. Will he be remembered as one of the most exciting? Absolutely. …
Filip Hrgovic (17-0, 14 KOs) could end up as a big winner as a result of the show in Riyadh. The rising Croatian heavyweight did his job on the card, stopping ridiculously overmatched Mark De Mori (41-3-2, 36 KOs) in the first round. Then Parker did him a favor by upsetting Wilder. That could land Hrgovic a meeting with Joshua, who had been set to fight Wilder if things went well on Saturday. If Hrgovic gets that fight and wins – a big if – he will move to the front of line among those jockeying for a shot at a world title. … Cruiserweight beltholder Jai Opetaia (24-0, 19 KOs) didn’t give us much of a chance to admire his all-around ability on the Joshua-Wallin and Parker-Wilder card, stopping Ellis Zorro (17-1, 7 KOs) with a monstrous left hand that left an immobile Zorro with his head resting on the bottom rope in the first round. At least Opetaia made a strong impression. The Aussie’s mission now is to take the next step in his career, which would be a victory over a big-name opponent. But who? Gilberto Ramirez (45-1, 30 KOs) might be the most intriguing possibility at the moment. The durable Mexican is a former 168-pound titleholder who failed in a bid to take Dmitry Bivol’s 175-pound title and is now campaigning as a 200-pounder. He outpointed Joe Smith Jr. in October. Ramirez is high profile enough to bring attention to the matchup and could give Opetaia problems. …
Also on the Joshua-Wallin and Parker-Wilder card … Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) had no trouble with Lydon Arthur (23-2, 16 KOs), winning a shutout decision in defense of his 175-pound title. No surprise there. The winner’s inability to take out his counterpart probably was a disappointment in the Bivol camp but it doesn’t detract much from another dominating performance. His skill level is somewhere above the stratosphere. I hope a meeting with Artur Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs) for the undisputed championship comes next, assuming Beterbiev beats Callum Smith on Jan. 13. I think Bivol will win that bout because he’s a better all-around fighter than Beterbiev but it will he’s ultimate test. … Daniel Dubois (20-2, 19 KOs) gave arguably the strongest performance of his career, outworking and then stopping 333-pound Jarrell Miller in the 10th and final round of a grueling fight. The winner outlanded his opponent 208-107, according to CompuBox. The victory was a significant step back into title contention after his knockout loss against Usyk, in which some fans believe he quit. Meanwhile, it’s difficult to be sympathetic to Miller, who has failed two drug tests. …
Agit Kabayel (24-0, 16 KOs) turned in an impressive upset, stopping hulking Arslanbek Makhmudov (18-1, 17 KOs) in the fourth round of their heavyweight matchup to raise his profile. It was Kabayel’s all-around ability vs. Makhumdov’s brawn and power, which turned out to be a mismatch. … Talented heavyweight contender Frank Sanchez (24-0, 17 KOs) put Junior Fa (20-3, 11 KOs) away in the seventh round, just another impressive performance from the Cuban. He’s clearly ready to take on a next-level opponent. … And, finally, my thoughts and prayers go out to 92-year-old Hall of Fame TV analyst and accomplished journalist Larry Merchant, who reportedly was rushed to the hospital and placed in a critical care unit this week. No further details were available. Merchant is the best analyst ever. And those in the business who have had the privilege of spending time with him cherish his friendship.
Joseph Parker stunned Deontay Wilder and the boxing world by winning a one-sided decision Saturday in Saudi Arabia.
Forget [autotag]Deontay Wilder[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Anthony Joshua[/autotag]. Wilder could be finished as an elite fighter.
Joseph Parker did a brilliant job of avoiding Wilder’s vaunted right hand and more than enough offensively to win a one-sided decision in a battle of former heavyweight titleholders Saturday night in Saudi Arabia.
The official scores were 120-108, 118-110 and 118-111. Boxing Junkie scored it 118-110 for Parker, 10 rounds to two.
Joseph Parker upsets Deontay Wilder, winning by unanimous decision with scores of 118-111, 118-110 & 120-108, improving his record to 34-3. pic.twitter.com/BTzIWjxKcr
Parker (34-3, 23 KOs) executed a smart game plan, staying outside the reach of a huge puncher or rushing inside to smother him while finding opportune times to attack.
The Kiwi was particularly effective with his overhand right hand, which found the mark on numerous occasions.
Wilder did more waiting than punching, evidently trying to find an opening to land his vaunted right hand that never came. As a result, he let round by round — and ultimately the fight — slip away.
The loser landed only 39 total punches, an average of three-plus per round, according to CompuBox. Parker landed 89 punches.
Parker hurt Wilder only once — the result of an overhand right last in Round 8 — but his inability to put him down or knock him out didn’t detract from a dominating performance.
The victory was one of the biggest in the career of Parker, who has won four consecutive fights since he was stopped by Joe Joyce in September of last year.
He’s now in a strong position to fight for a major title in the coming year.
Meanwhile, Wilder (43-3-1, 42 KOs) had fought only one round in the past two years, his first-round knockout of Robert Helenius in October of last year. That followed back-to-back knockout losses to Tyson Fury, which might’ve taken something out of the 38-year-old.
Wilder gave mixed messages after the fight, saying he’d be back but also indicating that he was satisfied with what he had accomplished.
He and Joshua had agreed to face one another in March if things went well on Saturday. Instead of taking part in that massive event, Wilder has some thinking to do.
Joseph Parker stunned Deontay Wilder and the boxing world by winning a one-sided decision Saturday in Saudi Arabia.
Forget Deontay Wilder vs. Anthony Joshua. Wilder could be finished as an elite fighter.
Joseph Parker did a brilliant job of avoiding Wilder’s vaunted right hand and more than enough offensively to win a one-sided decision in a battle of former heavyweight titleholders Saturday night in Saudi Arabia.
The official scores were 120-108, 118-110 and 118-111. Boxing Junkie scored it 118-110 for Parker, 10 rounds to two.
“Coming into this fight, everyone had other plans, but this is God’s plan,” Parker said. “Today, what a win. Merry Christmas to us.”
Joseph Parker upsets Deontay Wilder, winning by unanimous decision with scores of 118-111, 118-110 & 120-108, improving his record to 34-3. pic.twitter.com/BTzIWjxKcr
Parker (34-3, 23 KOs) executed a smart game plan, staying outside the reach of a huge puncher or rushing inside to smother him while finding opportune times to attack.
The Kiwi was particularly effective with his overhand right hand, which found the mark on numerous occasions.
Wilder did more waiting than punching, evidently trying to find an opening to land his vaunted right hand that never came. As a result, he let round by round — and ultimately the fight — slip away.
The loser landed only 39 total punches, an average of three-plus per round, according to CompuBox. Parker landed 89 punches.
Parker hurt Wilder only once — the result of an overhand right last in Round 8 — but his inability to put him down or knock him out didn’t detract from a dominating performance.
Wilder gave kudos to Parker afterward.
“He did a great job avoiding a lot of my punches,” Wilder said. “We make no excuses tonight. It was a good fight, and we move on to the next thing.”
The victory was one of the biggest in the career of Parker, who has won four consecutive fights since he was stopped by Joe Joyce in September of last year.
He’s now in a strong position to fight for a major title in the coming year.
Meanwhile, Wilder (43-3-1, 42 KOs) had fought only one round in the past two years, his first-round knockout of Robert Helenius in October of last year. That followed back-to-back knockout losses to Tyson Fury, which might’ve taken something out of the 38-year-old.
Wilder gave mixed messages after the fight, saying he’d be back but also indicating that he is satisfied with what he has accomplished.
He and Joshua had agreed to face one another in March if things went well on Saturday. Instead of taking part in that massive event, Wilder has some thinking to do.
Joseph Parker stunned Deontay Wilder and the boxing world by winning a one-sided decision Saturday in Saudi Arabia.
Forget Deontay Wilder vs. Anthony Joshua. Wilder could be finished as an elite fighter.
Joseph Parker did a brilliant job of avoiding Wilder’s vaunted right hand and more than enough offensively to win a one-sided decision in a battle of former heavyweight titleholders Saturday night in Saudi Arabia.
The official scores were 120-108, 118-110 and 118-111. Boxing Junkie scored it 118-110 for Parker, 10 rounds to two.
“Coming into this fight, everyone had other plans, but this is God’s plan,” Parker said. “Today, what a win. Merry Christmas to us.”
Joseph Parker upsets Deontay Wilder, winning by unanimous decision with scores of 118-111, 118-110 & 120-108, improving his record to 34-3. pic.twitter.com/BTzIWjxKcr
Parker (34-3, 23 KOs) executed a smart game plan, staying outside the reach of a huge puncher or rushing inside to smother him while finding opportune times to attack.
The Kiwi was particularly effective with his overhand right hand, which found the mark on numerous occasions.
Wilder did more waiting than punching, evidently trying to find an opening to land his vaunted right hand that never came. As a result, he let round by round — and ultimately the fight — slip away.
The loser landed only 39 total punches, an average of three-plus per round, according to CompuBox. Parker landed 89 punches.
Parker hurt Wilder only once — the result of an overhand right last in Round 8 — but his inability to put him down or knock him out didn’t detract from a dominating performance.
Wilder gave kudos to Parker afterward.
“He did a great job avoiding a lot of my punches,” Wilder said. “We make no excuses tonight. It was a good fight, and we move on to the next thing.”
The victory was one of the biggest in the career of Parker, who has won four consecutive fights since he was stopped by Joe Joyce in September of last year.
He’s now in a strong position to fight for a major title in the coming year.
Meanwhile, Wilder (43-3-1, 42 KOs) had fought only one round in the past two years, his first-round knockout of Robert Helenius in October of last year. That followed back-to-back knockout losses to Tyson Fury, which might’ve taken something out of the 38-year-old.
Wilder gave mixed messages after the fight, saying he’d be back but also indicating that he is satisfied with what he has accomplished.
He and Joshua had agreed to face one another in March if things went well on Saturday. Instead of taking part in that massive event, Wilder has some thinking to do.
Check out these photos from Joseph Parker’s decision victory over Deontay Wilder at Day of Reckoning in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Check out these photos from Joseph Parker’s unanimous decision victory over Deontay Wilder at Day of Reckoning, which took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photos by Richard Pelham, Getty Images)
Dmitry Bivol shut out Lyndon Arthur to set up a possible showdown with Artur Beterbiev for the undisputed 175-pound championship.
Dmitry Bivol didn’t get a knockout but he couldn’t have been much more dominating.
The light heavyweight titleholder and pound-for-pounder dropped overmatched Lyndon Arthur en route to winning a shutout decision in defense of his 175-pound title on a card featuring Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua on Saturday in Saudi Arabia.
Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) dominated the fight from the beginning with his consistent jab, quick, straight right hands, an occasional body shot and his knack for avoiding his opponent’s best shots.
Arthur (23-2, 16 KOs) jabbed and threw some power shots but, fighting on his back foot almost the entire fight, he was more concerned with surviving — parrying Bivol’s punches, ducking out of the way or holding — than mounting an offense of his own.
That’s how Bivol was able to win round after round of a one-sided fight.
Bivol put Arthur down in the final seconds of Round 11, the result of a flurry of shots capped by a vicious left to the body that forced Arthur to take a knee. The Russian tried to finish the job in Round 12 with two salvos but the loser managed to stay on his feet.
All three judges scored it the same, 120-107. Boxing Junkie had the same score.
The consensus 2022 Fighter of the Year — after beating Canelo Alvarez and Gilberto Ramirez.– could face fellow beltholder Artur Beterbiev for the undisputed championship next if Beterbiev gets past Callum Smith on Jan. 13.
