Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev battled it out in a historic light heavyweight showdown in Saudi Arabia this past weekend.
After 12 close and competitive rounds, it was the still unbeaten and unified champion Beterbiev who came out on top. A majority decision win anointed him the new undisputed king of the division with official scores of 116-112, 115-113 and 114-114.
After a slow start, his famous pressure began to show in the later rounds and he clawed many back while Bivol continued to use his footwork and punching from the outside to try and keep him at bay.
However, the result wasn’t without controversy with many believing Bivol had done enough to get his hand raised. His promoter Eddie Hearn was furious at the result and called for the judge who scored it 116-112 to ‘never work again’.
Speaking on his Instagram, Roy Jones Jr, who was the last undisputed champion at 175lbs, recognised it was a close fight and agreed with Hearn about the wide score being inappropriate.
“We had a very fantastic fight. A fight I thought could have gone either way. However it goes, nobody won or lost the fight by four points, that’s ridiculous, which is why I say we need an immediate rematch.”
He then had high praise for both men but scored the contest a draw and called for a quick rematch.
“Both guys did a lot to change. Beterbiev showed me more than he’s ever showed me before about being a boxer. He can actually box, and I was surprised.
Bivol was a very good defender which we knew, he was a very good counterpuncher, which we knew. He jumped out to the early lead I thought.
Beterbiev finished the fight stronger. So that’s why I think in my point of view the fight should be a draw, and let’s get a rematch.”
