BIVOL TAKES BETERBIEV"S UNDISPUTED LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD TITLE

Dmitry Bivol defeats Artur Beterbiev in a split-points decision to claim light-heavyweight world title in Saudi Arabia.

Dmitry Bivol celebrates victory with the title belts and his team after the Undisputed IBF, IBO, WBC and WBO World Light Heavyweight Titles' fight with Artur Beterbiev [Richard Pelham/Getty Images]

Russian Dmitry Bivol avenged a previous defeat to take the undisputed light-heavyweight world title from Artur Beterbiev on a majority points decision in an epic rematch in Saudi Arabia.

The judges scored Sunday’s fight in Riyadh 114-114, 116-112 and 115-113.

The previous encounter last October, when both went toe-to-toe as unbeaten champions, ended with exactly the same score but to Russian-born Canadian Beterbiev who added the WBA belt to his WBC, WBO and IBF ones.

This time, Bivol, 34, was better on the night, moving up a gear and taking the fight to his bearded older opponent, now 40, with determination and classy combinations.

The 1-1 outcome opens the way to an inevitable third clash between the two.

“Actually, I didn’t want the second fight, it wasn’t my choice, but no problem. We’re going to do a third fight,” Beterbiev, who did not shake Bivol’s hand, said in the ring after the scores were announced.

Dmitry Bivol in action during his fight with Artur Beterbiev [Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters]

Bivol said he was up for any challenge but needed a rest after his exertions.

"I want to heal myself a little bit and come back,” said the Russian, who ended the fight with blood streaming from the top of his left eye.

“I didn’t have as much pressure like last time. I just wanted to work from the first round until the end of the 12th. I did enough and I won this.

“I was better, I was pushing myself more, I was more confident, I was lighter and I just wanted to win so much today.”

Bivol had the better of his opponent over the first three rounds, but the champion found his rhythm in the fourth in a livelier fight than the first one but still with little to separate the two.

Artur Beterbiev sustained a cut above his eye early in the fight [Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters]

At the final bell, neither boxer could be sure of the outcome, both waiting for the scores to be read without celebrating in advance.

“I don’t want to talk about the decision – it’s tough. Congratulations to Bivol’s team,” said Beterbiev, who could claim the final round.

“I thought this fight was better than the first fight, but we’ll see. Now is my time to come back.”

Earlier, three-times world champion Shakur Stevenson retained his WBC lightweight title after stopping stand-in Josh Padley, a British electrician who had three days to prepare for the fight, at the end of nine rounds.

Former WBO world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker stopped another late replacement Martin Bakole in two rounds in their WBO Interim bout.

Joseph Parker knocks out Martin Bakole during the WBO Interim World Heavyweight title fight [Richard Pelham/Getty Images]

 -  AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES

ARTUR BETERBIEV VS DMITRY BIVOL JUDGES SCORECARD: EDDY HEARN SLAMS 'DISGUSTING' RESULTS

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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