A rtur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol gave us everything we could have asked for in an undisputed championship. The pair of unbeaten titleholders fought at an elite skill level. There were momentum shifts and key adjustments made by both. In the end, a Ring Magazine and fully unified light heavyweight champion was crowned, the first in more than two decades. Even better, the fight was compelling enough to create demand for a rematch. It’s a good thing, since the aftermath suggested Beterbiev’s undisputed championship reign comes with its share of dispute. To some, Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) surged at the right time to rightfully collect all the 175-pound chips on October 12 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The unbeaten two-time Russian Olympian – now based in Canada – entered as the lineal, IBF, WBC and WBO champ. He left the ring with Bivol’s WBA title and the vacant Ring Magazine championship after a majority decision win. “When I first won the IBF belt, this dream to become undisputed champion has always been with me,” Beterbiev told The Ring. “I always remained confident that this day was coming. “Now it’s happened and I am very happy.” Unfortunately, the night also left many viewers – and most of Bivol’s team – very upset. A healthy portion of the sport believed that Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) was denied his rightful victory. His strong start was viewed as enough to overcome Beterbiev’s late rally. Had the three judges agreed with the court of public opinion, Bivol would have extended the sport’s second-longest active title reign among male beltholders. Instead, his seven-year run as WBA light heavyweight titlist ended without getting credit for a win on any of the three scorecards. Judge Manuel Oliver Palomo (114-114) awarded six rounds apiece to each boxer. His card was UNDISPUTED IN DISPUTE
organizations for a rematch.” Some will argue that it has merely produced lively debate. A post-fight study conducted by The Ring’s Anson Wainwright revealed that just nine of 21 experts polled viewed Bivol as the outright winner. Beterbiev deserved the nod according to just five – less than 20 percent. The remaining seven viewed their summit meeting either as a draw or were simply “undecided” on who deserved to win. The fight was that close. Close enough to where they both moved up in The Ring’s pound-for-pound rankings after the fight. Beterbiev moved up to No. 4, while Bivol holds the No. 5 spot. However close the fight was, it should not have been, if you ask Bivol himself – the one member of his team to offer zero excuses or public outrage. “In [a] fight like this, everything needed to be perfect,” Bivol told The Ring. “I did my job, but did I do my best? I don’t know that I can say that. I always feel like I can do better, even after every win. No fight has been perfect, I always [strive] for that. “Now, I [will focus on] my future. I still have plans to become undisputed.” Fortunately for Bivol, everyone involved seems on board to deliver. Even his longtime divisional rival. “Yes, of course, I am interested in rematch,” Beterbiev said on the subject. “If that is what everyone wants and what His Excellency wants, then we can do it.” “His Excellency” is Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. To boxing fans, he is the leader of a massive movement to bring together all the fights the sport has missed out on for years. Events by Queensberry Promotions, Matchroom Boxing, BOXXER, Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions are all sponsored by Riyadh Season. Alalshikh’s group recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of its launch. In that time, the sport has crowned undisputed champions at heavyweight
overruled by judges Glenn Feldman (115-113) and Pawel Kardyni (116-112). The card turned in by Poland’s Kardyni was viewed by most as too wide and not indicative of what took place in Saudi Arabia. It has become the focal point for a protest filed by Bivol’s team, a tactic they plan to leverage to secure an immediate rematch. “Due to the fact that this fight was quite controversial, we proceeded with a rematch request and protest of the decision with all of the sanctioning bodies,” Vadim Kornilov, Bivol’s career- long manager, told The Ring. “And we are still working on the possibility of a review of the 116-112 scorecard.” Matchroom Boxing Chairman Eddie Hearn stood by his man as well. “We saw one of the greatest fights and examples of our sport,” Hearn insisted while at the podium for the post-fight press conference. “I don’t want to disrespect Artur Beterbiev, because he’s an incredible fighter. But I find it sickening that after a lifetime of hard work, Dmitry Bivol is not the undisputed champion. He won that fight. “I struggled to find anyone who didn't score the fight to Bivol. I’m not saying it’s a robbery. But I don’t see how you can give Beterbiev six rounds in that fight.” Bivol’s legal team filed a rematch request with all four major sanctioning bodies. Attorney Patrick English likened the outcome to another undisputed championship co-promoted by one of his other clients, Main Events. Lennox Lewis was universally regarded as the victim of a horrifically scored split decision draw in his March 1999 heavyweight championship versus Evander Holyfield. “The result of that bout was among the most controversial in history, with a highly disputed draw,” English stated in his plea to the IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO to order Beterbiev-Bivol II. “Boxing fans demanded a rematch. The fighters wanted a rematch. I filed an appropriate petition with the ratings
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