Artur Beterbiev vs. Deon Nicholson - 22 November 2025

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ARTUR BETERBIEV RETURNS AGAINST DEON NICHOLSON AS ROAD TO REDEMPTION BEGINS ON NOV. 22 CARD

Former undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev will end a nine-month layoff to feature prominently on the Ring IV card come November 22, when he faces Alabama puncher Deon Nicholson in a matchup billed as the 40-year-old's road to redemption.

The Russian-born Canadian voiced his frustration last month at failing to settle terms for an immediate trilogy bout with now-unified titleholder Dmitry Bivol, having split their series one apiece after 24 thrilling rounds in the Saudi capital from October 2024 to February this year.

Bivol relinquished his WBC title, rather than negotiate terms for a purse bid with interim champion David Benavidez - since been elevated - while being ordered to box mandatory challenger Michael Eifert (13-1, 5 KOs) for the IBF strap. His next move remains unclear.

Benavidez, who watched the Bivol-Beterbiev rematch ringside in Riyadh, will headline Ring IV against two-time former title challenger Anthony Yarde in a maiden title defence at 175-pounds. After failed Benavidez negotiations, Callum Smith-David Morrell has been ordered for the former's newly-won WBO interim title and is also mooted to feature on the bill.

Said to have received Turki Alalshikh's blessing for a fight in their native Russia, as reported by The Ring's Mike Coppinger, Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) will now stay-busy against another American opponent in November. He's 8-0 with 8-0 KOs in matchups with stateside opposition but turns 41 in January as questions over longevity at an elite level persist.

Nicholson (22-1, 18 KOs) is six years his junior and has reeled off eight consecutive wins, including five inside the distance, since then-unbeaten Nigerian contender Efetobor Apochi dropped and stopped him three rounds into their scheduled 12-round contest in April 2021.

The nine-year pro pitched a ten-round points win over previously-unbeaten Sergio Jimenez this time last year and is most recently coming off a fourth-round finish of Devonte Williams on June 27, where he featured on the Deontay Wilder-Tyrell Herndon undercard.

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Artur Beterbiev-Deon Nicholson added to November 22 Riyadh show

Artur Beterbiev is prepared to move on with his career – and from Dmitry Bivol.

BS has confirmed that the former undisputed light heavyweight champion is set to next face Alabama’s Deon Nicholson on November 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The 175lbs matchup is part of a stacked Ring IV show that will feature at least five major title fights.

News of the bout was first reported by Ring Magazine, who presents the event along with boxing financier Turki Alalshikh.

The night will mark the first time in more than eight years that Beterbiev, 21-1 (20 KOs) will enter the ring without a major title at stake. It comes as an alternative to previously sought plans for a rubber match with Bivol, 24-1 (12 KOs), the current undisputed 175lbs champion.

Beterbiev and Bivol are responsible for the only defeat on the other’s records, their two-fight set which took place in a four-month span. Beterbiev – a two-time Olympian for Russia who lives and trains in Montreal, Canada – won their first fight via majority decision to fully unify all four major 175lbs titles last October 12 in Riyadh.

It ended Bivol’s near seven-year WBA title reign, while Beterbiev retained the WBC, IBF and WBO titles.

Beterbiev entered their February 22 rematch as the sport’s longest-reigning active titleholder, having held the IBF belt since November 2017. Bivol put an end to that with a majority decision victory of his own in their instant classic.

However, his stay as newly crowned undisputed champion was brief. Bivol was forced to vacate the WBC title when he declined to move forward with an ordered mandatory title defense against David Benavidez, 30-0 (24 KOs).

Fittingly, Benavidez defends the WBC 175lbs title for the first time against England’s Anthony Yarde atop this November 22 show.

As for Bivol, it was theorized at the time that he would move forward with a trilogy clash against Beterbiev, and that it would presumably take place in Russia. However, the bout never came close to materializing. In fact, Beterbiev even called out Bivol for dragging his feet on the matter.

A third fight is even less likely to take place anytime soon. As reported by BS, Bivol was ordered to next face IBF mandatory Michael Eifert. The deadline has passed for their negotiation period, and Bivol is out of exceptions to use in the absence of a unification bout.

Meanwhile, Beterbiev, 40, will take a stay-busy fight as means to once again lodge a two-fight campaign on the year, as well as his third straight appearance in Riyadh.

It comes against a woefully overmatched foe in Nicholson, 22-1 (18 KOs), a stablemate of former WBC heavyweight titlist Deontay Wilder. Both fighters are from Tuscaloosa, Alabama and posted knockout wins on the same June 27 BLK Prime Pay-Per-View show in Wichita, Kansas.

Nicholson halted Houston’s Devonte Williams, 13-3 (6 KOs) in the fourth round of their light heavyweight contest. The win ended a ten-month inactive stretch for the 34-year-old knockout artist, who faces a former champion for the first time in his nine-year career.

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Beterbiev puts Bivol trilogy bout on hold, will fight Nicholson

An expected third fight between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev is on hold indefinitely after it was announced Tuesday that Beterbiev will return Nov. 22 against Deon Nicholson.

The fight will be on the undercard of the Ring IV "Night of Champions" event headlined by David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde.

Beterbiev, the former undisputed light heavyweight champion, is coming off a majority decision loss to Bivol in February, the first defeat of his professional career. He defeated Bivol by majority decision to become undisputed champion in their first meeting last October.

Instead of sticking with Riyadh Season as their promotional outfit, Beterbiev and Bivol lobbied for their trilogy fight to take place in Russia with different organizers. Saudi Arabia's chairman of General Entertainment Authority, Turki Alalshikh, gave his blessing for the Russian fighters to move forward, but Beterbiev will opt for another opponent instead.

Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs), 40, will face a relative unknown in Nicholson (22-1, 18 KOs) and is expected to be a heavy betting favorite. Fighting out of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Nicholson, 34, has taken on relatively low-level opposition in his pro career, which began in 2016. Beterbiev will represent a massive step up in competition for Nicholson, whose only loss was by knockout to Efetobor Apochi in 2021.

After their February rematch, Beterbiev and Bivol were unable to come to terms for a third fight, and Beterbiev voiced his frustrations on social media. Bivol, who relinquished the WBC title rather than face Benavidez, was ordered by the IBF to face Michael Eifert in a mandatory title defense. Though Beterbiev has decided to move on to another opponent, it is not known whether Bivol will agree to defend the title against Eifert.

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Deon Nicholson reports November 22 fight with Artur Beterbiev is off

The matchup between former undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev and Deon Nicholson scheduled for November 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has been called off according to multiple Nicholson social media posts shared on Thursday.

“Just got word that my fight with Artur Beterbiev was canceled be the will of God I’ll have info on another fight soon,” read the post from Nicholson’s Facebook account.

In a post on Nicholson’s Instagram account: “Still working and preparing for whoever come @arturbeterbiev maybe another day.”

The fight would have been Russia-born Beterbiev’s first since losing all four 175lbs belts to Dmitry Bivol in their rematch last February, and was arranged after Beterbiev, 21-1 (20 KOs), had tried and failed to call out Bivol for a rubber match.

Nicholson, 22-1 (18 KOs), a 35-year-old from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, had been preparing for a massive step up in competition in Beterbiev, who, despite mounting injuries and his 40 years, would have been far and away the most dangerous opponent in Nicholson’s career.

No reason was given by Nicholson for the cancellation. Boxing Scene will follow up with more details on this story as they become available.

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It showing on BoxRec again

Against Deon Nicholson

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Artur Beterbiev: "Hi everyone. I got a lot of questions about my promotional status. From June 2025 I'm a free agent. My contract with Top Rank expired. I'm grateful for all these years with Top Rank and want to thank them for the opportunities they gave me. I want everyone, who follow and support me, to know that I believe - the best fights are ahead."

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Top Rank confirms departure of Artur Beterbiev

Top Rank have confirmed that Artur Beterbiev has left them following the conclusion of his promotional contract.

The light heavyweight, 40, had described himself as a “free agent”, and an official working on behalf of the promotional organisation that guided him to the status of undisputed champion told Boxing Scene that they have indeed parted ways.

Beterbiev joined Top Rank in 2019 following his departure from his promoter Yvon Michel, but at a period of uncertainty surrounding his future following the collapse of his date with Deon Nicholson, he posted on social media: “I got a lot of questions about my promotional status. From June 2025 I’m a free agent. My contract with Top Rank expired.

“I’m grateful for all these years with Top Rank and want to thank them for the opportunities they gave me. I want everyone, who follows and supports me, to know that I believe – the best fights are ahead.”

Beterbiev-Nicholson had been scheduled for the undercard of David Benavidez-Anthony Yarde in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 22.

It is little secret Beterbiev had also targeted a third fight with his fellow Russian Dmitry Bivol, after first outpointing him and then enduring Bivol inflicting his first defeat.