Former light heavyweight champion Roy Jones Jr. has advocated for an immediate rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol following a closely contested bout in Saudi Arabia. Beterbiev narrowly secured a majority decision victory over Bivol, raising questions and discussions in the boxing community.
Jones, who himself claimed the undisputed 175-pound title in 1999, expressed his belief that the high-stakes matchup between Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) and Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) should have ended in a draw. He shared his thoughts on social media, emphasizing the close nature of the fight.
“Last night, we had a fantastic fight,” Jones remarked. “A fight that I thought could’ve gone either way. However, what happened happened. Nobody won or lost the fight by four points, which is why I say we need an immediate rematch.”
The back-and-forth nature of the fight saw Bivol starting strong in the early rounds, securing a lead before Beterbiev rallied with a powerful finish. The judges scored the event 116-112, 115-113, and 114-114, reflecting the competitive spirit of the bout.
Jones praised both fighters for their performances. He noted, “Beterbiev showed me more than he’s ever shown before about being a boxer. He actually can walk, and I was surprised. Bivol demonstrated his skills as a good defender and counter-puncher, jumping out to an early lead.”
Despite Bivol’s strong start, Jones acknowledged Beterbiev’s determination and noted that he finished the fight stronger.
“I believe the fight should be a draw, which is why I think we need a rematch,” Jones concluded.
Bernard Neequaye is a seasoned sports journalist focusing on boxing. With years of experience writing a boxing column titled “From The Ringside” in Ghana, he actively engages with fans on X (formerly Twitter) under @BernardNeequaye and can be reached via LinkedIn or email at [email protected].
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