Artur Beterbiev secured undisputed standing at light-heavyweight with a controversial win over Dmitry Bivol on Saturday.
Beterbiev entered Saudi Arabia as unified champion, holding the WBC, WBO and IBF belts, and he took Bivol’s WBA title through majority choice.
The scorecards learn 114-114, 115-113, 116-112 in favour of Beterbiev, with the latter scorecard seeming surprisingly huge after the tense, strategic showdown.
Bivol, 33, is named the slicker technician, whereas Beterbiev, 39, is famed for his energy – which had cast a 20-0 document with 20 knockouts earlier than Saturday (12 October).
And Bivol’s tidy work appeared to construct him an early lead, though Beterbiev frequently pressed ahead and sporadically confirmed his energy.
Bivol impressed along with his bravery and composure, typically standing in entrance of the more durable hitter and crafting trademark combos, though at many factors he was compelled to skip across the ring and throw brief pictures to discourage Beterbiev.
Because the momentum swayed, Bivol appeared to drag forward within the center rounds, earlier than Beterbiev got here on robust within the closing frames – sometimes forcing Bivol to cowl up and maintain on for the bell.
Even so, the 116-112 scorecard within the Russian-Canadian’s favour will shock many viewers, with the consensus being {that a} draw or slim win for both fighter would have been truthful. Regardless, Bivol – additionally of Russian descent however with Kyrgyzstani heritage – will depart Riyadh with a primary skilled loss to his title (23-1, 12 KOs).
Bivol’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, informed DAZN: “In one of many greatest fights of our technology, a very powerful battle of Dmitry Bivol’s life, you give him 4 rounds? It’s disgusting.
“You heard Beterbiev’s nook within the tenth spherical: They informed him he needed to knock him out. [Even Beterbiev’s promoters] Prime Rank knew he’d misplaced. I’m completely baffled and disgusted. I don’t need to disrespect Artur Beterbiev…
“That choose ought to by no means work once more. 4 rounds [to Bivol] in a battle of this magnitude is disgusting.”
Frank Warren, in the meantime, stated he scored the battle for Bivol by “a few rounds”, calling the 116-112 scorecard “ridiculous” and “a joke”.
