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| Artur Beterbiev defeated Dimitry Bivol (Image: Getty) |
Artur Beterbiev secured victory over Dmitry Bivol in Saudi Arabia, but the result has not gone down well with boxing fans.
The scoring of Artur Beterbiev’s victory over Dmitry Bivol in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night has received a controversial response from boxing fans. The light-heavyweight clash lived up to its billing in Saudi Arabia, with Beterbiev and Bivol needing all 12 rounds to find a result.
And it was Beterbiev whose arm was lifted into the air by the referee in the aftermath, after the Russian-Canadian was crowned undisputed light-heavyweight champion via a split decision. The result of the closely-fought contest split opinion with those watching on though.
A large portion of boxing fans believe the result in favour of Beterbiev was unjust, opting to take to social media to vent their frustrations after the judges’ scorecard was revealed. Manuel Oliver Palamo scored the fight 114-114, but his two colleagues went in favour of the 39-year-old.
Glenn Feldman scored it 115-113 in favour of Beterbiev, whilst Pawel Kardyni’s result read 116-112, with the Russian-Canadian as the champion. Some boxing fans however were quick to disagree.
“Biggest robbery of the last ten years,” one tweeted, before a second went on to add: “Dude who gave it 116-112 needs checking. Could have gone either way, not grumbling at Beterbiev winning but 4 rounds [in his favour] is crazy.”
The complaints did not stop there, as a third fan posted: “Draw at best. No way Beterbiev won,” before a fourth went on to comment: “How can someone score this fight 116-112.”
Whilst those watching from the side were clearly unimpressed, Bivol showed his class by offering his congratulations to his rival. “I have to do everything perfect,” Bivol said post-fight. “And I don’t have any explanation because it could look like excuses.
“I just... Congratulations to Artur and his team. He deserves it.” The fighter went on: “He’s powerful,” he says. “Very powerful. And you see, I have a bruise on my hand. [His punching] was so hard, even he reached my eye.”
Quizzed on whether he wanted a rematch, Bivol replied: “Why not? Of course. If I had this chance, yes. This is my dream to be undisputed.” One man who was less accepting of the result was his promoter Eddie Hearn, who slammed the result in the aftermath.
"In one of the biggest fights of our generation and in the most important fight in Dmitry Bivol's life you give him Four rounds? It's absolutely disgusting,” Hearn claimed.
“I don't want to disrespect Artur Beterbiev but Dmitry Bivol should be the undisputed champion tonight and that judge should never work again. Four rounds in a fight of that magnitude is disgusting."
- Joshua Lees
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