Artur Beterbiev defeated Dmitry Bivol in the heavyweight boxing championship match. Many saw Bivol as the winner.
Artur Beterbiev39, is the new undisputed champion in boxing’s heavyweight division, meaning he got all the championship belts for himself.
Beterbiev faced another Russian in the top match Dmitry Bivolin in Saudi Arabia.
Beterbiev narrowly won by majority decision of the judges and thus remains undefeated.
According to one judge, the match was tied at 114-114. The other two judges saw Beterbiev as the winner with scores of 115–113 and 116–112.
The match was Beterbiev’s first as a professional, which did not end before full time. He only had knockout wins below.
The previous undisputed champion in the heavyweight division was in 2002 Roy Jones Jr.
The match has been praised as a really tough match between two superstars. Beterbiev was still not in the happiest state after the match.
– I wanted to fight with better quality, the boxer commented According to the BBC.
For Bivol, the loss is the first in his career. Known as a strong defensive boxer, Bivol had won his previous 23 fights. In the win column, for example, a point win looks great About Canelo Alvarez.
After the match, Bivol raised his hands in the air and thought he had won. After the judges’ scores came out, however, he sincerely congratulated the winner.
– He is powerful. I have bruises on my hands, he hit so hard.
DAZN’s expert by Darren Barker according to Beterbiev won because he was more aggressive.
Many were still of the opinion that Bivol deserved the win.
– Everyone on the side of the ring thought that Bivol won a couple more rounds, said the promoter on the DAZN channel Frank Warren.
– This was such a high-quality match that we need to see a replay, Warren continued.
Another famous promoter Eddie Hearn appointed one judge in particular and preferred Bivol.
– How can you give Bivol the winnings from only four batches? This is disgusting. I don’t want to take credit away from Beterbiev, but that judge shouldn’t be doing this job anymore.
For example, a former boxing star on social media Tony Bellew saw Bivol as the winner.
– The last set was so even, but I got the feeling that Bivol landed more hard hits. Beterbiev was incredible. Almost 40 years and he was like in his twenties.
Top boxer Shakur Stevenson seemed to be disappointed with the result as well. He posted the two judges’ scores (115-113 and 116-112) on X with a laughing emoji.
Sources: DAZN, BBC.