Artur Beterbiev beat Dmitry Bivol to become the undisputed light-heavyweight champion in Saudi Arabia. The judges scored it a majority decision in Beterbiev's favor, marking his first full twelve-round fight after 20 straight knockouts.
The close decision has sparked intense debate in the boxing world. Many feel Bivol deserved to win, with his promoter Eddie Hearn claiming he was robbed of victory.
Bob Arum, Beterbiev's 92-year-old promoter, saw it differently. He scored the fight 7-5 for Beterbiev, noting that his fighter swept the late rounds. Arum pointed out that the judges agreed on 10 of the 12 rounds, with only two being split.
"It was a very well judged fight. It wasn't judges being all over the place."
Arum also suggested that the TV production might have swayed viewers' perceptions. DAZN produced the broadcast and has ties to Bivol through Eddie Hearn, potentially creating a Bivol-friendly presentation.
"I think it was a terrific battle between two really outstanding light-heavyweight fighters who had different fight styles and that made it a really interesting fight to watch."
Despite the controversy, all parties seem open to an immediate rematch. This would give Bivol a chance to reclaim the titles and Beterbiev an opportunity to silence any doubters.
Fans can watch the fight highlights to judge for themselves. For those interested in hearing more from Bob Arum, he gave an in-depth interview on the Fight Freaks Unite podcast, discussing the fight and its aftermath.
