- The Russian beat his compatriot in a controversial split decision in Riyadh on Sat
- Beterbiev becomes the first undisputed light-heavyweight champion in 25 years
- Bivol’s promoter Eddie Hearn fumed that even the winner’s team felt he lost
Artur Beterbiev’s corner were caught on camera issuing advice during the Russian’s contentious win over Dmitry Bivol which proves even they thought their man had lost.
The fighter became the first undisputed light-heavyweight champion of the world since Roy Jones Jr 25 years ago thanks to a controversial split decision following a gripping fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday night.
Bivol’s intermittent flurries of combinations broke up Beterbiev’s role of aggressor in the bout and was enough to make the eventual loser feel somewhat hard done by after the verdict was given.
His opponent later conceded that even though he thought he had inflicted sufficient punishment for a narrow victory, his first not involving a knockout, he felt ‘a little lucky’ that two of the judges saw it that way.
And it appears his corner felt the same after it emerged they had warned their fighter he was losing the contest with just one round remaining, The Sun reports.
Artur Beterbiev’s corner were caught on camera issuing advice during the Russian’s contentious win over Dmitry Bivol
The fighter became the first undisputed light-heavyweight champion of the world since Roy Jones Jr 25 years ago
Dmitry Bivol felt somewhat hard done by after the verdict was given
Following the 11th round, Beterbiev’s team appear to tell the boxer: ‘You have to knock him out.’
Minutes later, after failing to land a telling blow, the unbeaten fighter clung onto his perfect record as one judge scored it 114-114, and the other two handed him the victory – one went with 115-113 and the third 116-112 to Beterbiev.
After the decision, a furious Eddie Hearn, who promotes the dejected Bivol, said: ‘In one of the biggest fights of our generation and in the most important fight in Dmitry Bivol’s life you give him four rounds?
‘It’s absolutely disgusting. You heard in the tenth round ‘you have to knock him out to win this fight’.
‘They knew Artur Beterbiev lost this fight. I’m absolutely baffled and disgusted by a scorecard of 116-112.
‘I don’t want to disrespect Artur Beterbiev but Dmitry Bivol should be the undisputed champion tonight and that judge should never work again.
‘Four rounds in a fight of that magnitude is disgusting.’
Meanwhile Beterbiev said: ‘They always say that. I was more focused but not more aggressive. It’s my experience and I am happy. I am a very simple boxer.
‘I feel not bad. I did not good today. I wanted to box with more quality. I’ll be better one day. It was a little bit uncomfortable.’
A furious Eddie Hearn, who promotes the dejected Bivol, said the decision was ‘disgusting’
Bivol’s intermittent flurries of combinations broke up Beterbiev’s role of aggressor in the bout
Turki Alalshikh has now voiced his desire to stage a rematch between Beterbiev and Bivol
Bivol is set to be given the chance to avenge his controversial defeat, according to Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh.
Alalshikh, a key figure in bringing major boxing events to Saudi Arabia, outlined his plans for a rematch following Beterbiev’s controversial points victory in the title fight.
He suggested the result of the fight was not fair and is already working to organise a second showdown between the two champions.