Dmitry Bivol waited four months to hear the words, “And the new undisputed light heavyweight champion…” as he triumphed over fellow countryman Artur Beterbiev at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fight was eerily reminiscent of their original clash—the ebb and flow almost identical. But this time, the difference was clear—Bivol had done just enough to have his hand raised. 

Bivol took control in the early rounds, but Beterbiev surged back in the middle frames. The final stretch saw both men trading momentum, with Beterbiev closing strong in the championship rounds. Yet, when the scorecards were read—Deon Dwarte scored it 115-113, Mike Fitzgerald scored it 116-112, and Jean-Robert Laine scored it 114-114—it was Bivol who emerged victorious via majority decision. Now, with the division shaken, one question looms large: What’s next for Beterbiev?

A trilogy, of course!

Every great matchup comes in threes! Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Fraizer, Riddick Bowe vs. Evander Hollyfield, and more recently Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin. So, considering the performance Beterbiev and Bivol presented, they are heading for a rubber match, and the best part is it’s justified.

The ‘Rabbit’ took the first, Bivol claimed the second, and the third will be the ultimate decider—the nail in the coffin. Whoever wins the trilogy earns all the bragging rights. Beterbiev has already called out Bivol for the decisive showdown, and since he granted Bivol a rematch, it’s only fair that Bivol returns the favor. Just think about it—before 2024, boxing hadn’t seen an undisputed light heavyweight champion since 1999. Now, in less than a year, we have two. This trilogy could define an era.

Face the undefeated

After suffering his first career loss, Artur Beterbiev might opt for a softer matchup to regain momentum. A strong candidate is WBA No. 2-ranked Albert Ramirez, who also holds the No. 5 spot in the IBF rankings and is ranked 3rd by both the WBC and WBO. What makes this matchup even more compelling is that Ramirez remains undefeated at 20-0, making him a worthy test for Beterbiev. Additionally, this would allow Dmitry Bivol to first face David Benavidez, setting the stage for a potential trilogy with Beterbiev down the line.

Artur Beterbiev vs. David Morrell

Even though David Morrell lost to David Benavidez, he could be an intriguing comeback opponent for Artur Beterbiev. This matchup would also clear the way for Benavidez and Dmitry Bivol to face off, with the winners of both fights eventually meeting for the undisputed title. However, this scenario hinges on Beterbiev being open to alternative opponents—something that might not happen if he insists on fighting Bivol first, much like Bivol did after his own loss last year.

That said, despite his loss, Artur Beterbiev still has several options to consider, though the path ahead may not be straightforward. Is there another opponent you have in mind for him?