Tyson Fury thinks Artur Beterbiev won his close fight against Dmitry Bivol fair and square. The two boxers faced off in early October for the undisputed light heavyweight title, with Beterbiev coming out on top.
The fight didn't go as many expected. Bivol seemed to be pulling away in the early rounds. But Beterbiev, known for his 100% knockout record, turned up the heat later on and took control.
Fury shared his thoughts on the match in a recent interview with BoxNation. He scored it 115-112 for Beterbiev, matching judge Glenn Feldman's card.
"I had it the same as [judge] Glenn Feldman, 115-112 to Beterbiev but again that's just opinion isn't it."
Not everyone agrees with Fury's take. His brother Shane and friend Bob Howard called it a draw. Fury's cousin even thought Bivol won by four rounds.
The official scores sparked some controversy. They came in at 114-114, 115-113, and 116-112 for Beterbiev. Eddie Hearn, Bivol's promoter, wasn't happy about it. He said the judge who scored it 116-112 for Beterbiev "should never work in the sport again."
Fury brought up an interesting point about his own recent fight with Oleksandr Usyk.
"I see this fight with Bivol and Beterbiev and I see all these robbery claims online yet my fight with Usyk was closer on the cards and I don't see any robbery claims, why is that?"
After the fight, there was talk of an immediate rematch. But Bob Arum, Beterbiev's promoter, has other plans. He's eyeing the next Riyadh Season in October, which means fans might have to wait a bit longer to see these two go at it again.
Watch this story: Beterbiev's Surprising Stance on Bivol Rematch: "It's Not About Revenge"
Beterbiev's victory makes him the undisputed champion at light heavyweight, holding all the major belts. It's a big achievement, especially considering how close and competitive the fight was.