The confrontation between the two strongest light heavyweight boxers Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol has been heating up for quite a long time. It was not easy to agree on holding the fight, and when everything was ready, due to an APC injury, the identification of the absolute world champion had to be delayed. Now the fight is over, after 12 rounds the judges made a verdict. But many people consider the outcome of the battle unfair.

There is a good chance that fans are in for a long-lasting story, and this is just the beginning.

“I have questions for the judges”

On October 12, in Riyadh, the two best light heavyweight boxers of our time, Beterbiev and Bivol, revealed which of them was stronger. Based on the results of 12 rounds of close combat, the judges decided that the advantage was on the side of the armored personnel carrier: two gave preference to the native of Khasavyurt and only one saw the fight as a draw. Now there is an absolute world champion in the light heavyweight category on the planet, but with a high probability we can say that this story will continue.

Before the fight, bookmakers gave a slight advantage to Bivol. Even most experts agreed that in a full 12-round confrontation, Dmitry has a high chance of winning, while Arthur is capable of dropping his opponent into the ring at any moment. But Beterbiev was unable to knock out his opponent and for the first time in his professional career brought the matter to a judge’s verdict, which not everyone thought was fair.

“I don’t agree with the decision, but at the same time I don’t want to take anything away from Arthur’s victory.” He did his best, he looked good in this fight, he got the win. Politically, I have questions for the judges.

There are certain experts in this sport that I listen to, but I haven’t seen anyone give the victory to Arthur. Basically, I saw that many experts from the USA counted a draw. And these experts definitely won’t help us with anything,” Bivol’s manager Vadim Kornilov told Match TV.

Dmitry Bivol and Arthur Beterbiev / Photo: © Richard Pelham / Stringer / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

“Bivol won”

It cannot be said that Bivol was literally robbed. WBC head Mauricio Sulaiman believes that Arthur’s victory was close, but clear. But Dmitry’s ex-wife Ekaterina didn’t even have to delve into any of the intricacies of the boxing match, she simply triumphed, calling out her once loved one. Even the chairman of the coaching council of the Russian Boxing Federation, Eduard Kravtsov, who is difficult to suspect of bias, noted that Beterbiev outplayed his opponent tactically. But still, many felt that Dmitry deserved at least a draw.

– Bivol won this fight, (score) 116-112 – this is crazy! – American ex-world champion Andre Ward wrote on social networks.

— It was a very meaningful battle of high masters. Each round could be played in a different direction. And the battle could have turned in any direction. I think there should have been a draw, and I think there should be a rematch,” former undisputed world light heavyweight champion Roy Jones told Match TV.

Roy Jones Jr. / Photo: © James Chance / Stringer / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

“In my opinion, Bivol won,” Match TV quotes another absolute ex-world champion with a Russian passport, Konstantin Tszyu.

– My opinion – Bivol was more accurate. I think that (his) victory was taken away,” wrote former world light heavyweight boxing champion, according to several versions, Sergei Kovalev on a social network.

“I don’t mean to disrespect Beterbiev, he and Bivol are among the greatest fighters of our generation, but you saw the body language of his team. They were in the corner, they knew they had lost the fight. 116–112 in favor of Beterbiev. You gave Bivol four rounds. The title of undisputed champion was stolen from him. I can’t believe it. The judge who had it 116-112 and gave four rounds to Bivol should never work in the sport again, promoter Eddie Hearn was quoted as saying by the Mirror.

“I think it was one of the best fights in the last 20 years.” But I think the result is unfair. These two fighters are like brothers to me, but I think Bivol won two more rounds. I’ll think about it and try to arrange a rematch. If they agree, we will do it,” journalist Michael Benson quoted the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Entertainment Affairs Al el-Sheikh as saying.

Second episode of the epic

And revenge here frankly suggests itself. If Beterbiev had won by knockout, then the need for a second fight could have been doubted. And Arthur himself believes that he did not show the best boxing. What can we say about Bivol, who, while not wanting to criticize the judges, is still confident that he landed more accurate blows.

From the point of view of the development of the plot of this confrontation, Beterbiev’s victory is perhaps a more attractive outcome for promoters. If Bivol were successful, it would be more difficult to “sell” the second episode of the epic to the fans: the older athlete is defeated, can he count on winning the next fight when he becomes even older?

But victory in the perspective of Dmitry, who has now lost, does not seem so unrealistic. He did not allow himself to be knocked out, and the fact that he was not so good as to resolve all the issues in one meeting in the ring – this way you can work on your mistakes. It is quite possible that Russia will have two absolute world champions in this weight within a few years. If Beterbiev manages to win a second time, then it will be much more difficult to accuse him of undeserved success. In any case, it is logical to expect the continuation of this story in the ring.

Watch live broadcasts of boxing tournaments on the Match TV channel and thematic channels of the holding, as well as on the websites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.