ARTUR BETERBIEV’S much-awaited showdown with Dmitry Bivol had an unpredictable start – even before the two unbeaten kings got inside the Riyadh ring.
There was a surprise break from protocol moments of the winner-takes-all light-heavyweight humdinger in Riyadh.
Three-belt champion Beterbiev was the man chosen to walk out first.
Normally whoever is first out into the arena has the same honour when it comes to getting in the ring.
But this time an announcement revealed the opposite would happen – with Bivol stepping in before his opponent.
The reigning WBA light-heavyweight champion went in boasting a perfect record of 23 wins in 23 fights, with 12 knockouts.
Meanwhile, Beterbiev had triumphed by KO in all his 20 previous bouts.
That makes him boxing’s only current champion with a 100% stoppage rate.
And when he stepped into the ring – after Bivol – he ignored the usual glitz of these occassions.
Instead he wore an old Fred Perry T-shirt.
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However, once the fight started, however, there was no dressing down from either man – as they went toe to toe at times amid an absorbing contest that lived up to expectations.
The build-up to the fight had been unusual for more than the switch from protocol.
Several musical acts strutted their stuff, including Busta Rhymes.
The two legends then bust a gut as each attempted to unify the crowns.
