Dmitry Bivol’s team expressed significant frustration with the judges’ scorecards following his narrow majority decision loss to Artur Beterbiev at Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia. This match crowned Beterbiev as the undisputed light heavyweight champion.
The judges scored the bout as follows: 114-114, 115-113, and 116-112, with the latter two votes favoring Beterbiev. This contentious outcome has sparked lively debate among boxing fans and analysts alike, highlighting the ever-present controversies surrounding judges’ decisions in high-stakes bouts.
In the post-fight press conference, Eddie Hearn, promoter for Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs), voiced his disappointment regarding the judges’ scores. Responding to comments made by Top Rank executive Carl Moretti—who suggested that while the fight was close, it wasn’t a robbery—Hearn was unequivocal in his defense of Bivol.
“I’m not throwing Carl Moretti under a bus. He’s my mate; he knew we won that fight,” Hearn stated. “I think he had it seven-five to us. I’m not saying it’s a robbery, but I can’t understand how you can give Artur Beterbiev six rounds in that fight. I certainly don’t see how you can give him seven.”
Hearn went further to dissect specific rounds, arguing that Bivol maintained control of the fight for much of its duration, even though Beterbiev ended some rounds strongly. “Go back and watch the fight. Look at him [Bivol] taking it on the gloves. Always in control.”
The match has left fans and commentators divided, with many calling for a rematch. Bivol, at 33 years old, began strongly, yet the 39-year-old Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) finished rounds with substantial power, which may have influenced the judges’ scoring.
Adding to the controversy, Bivol’s manager, Vadim Kornilov, directed his ire specifically at judge Pawel Kardyni, who scored the fight 116-112 in favor of Beterbiev. Kornilov’s comments were pointed. “Pawel Kardyni, after he comes back from Chechnya, should be suspended,” he declared. “That’s my opinion. He’s always done well in previous fights, so whatever happened here is outrageous.”
Kornilov’s mention of Chechnya garnered attention, especially considering Beterbiev’s origins from that region, even though he now trains in Canada. When prompted to clarify, Kornilov confirmed his comment was intentional and rooted in frustration over the judge’s decisions. “That was the idea,” he stated, making it clear he wasn’t alluding to Kardyni’s home country of Poland.
The outcome of this bout and the associated scoring controversy have ignited discussions about the fairness and transparency of judging in boxing, prompting calls from fans for reforms and greater accountability in future matches.
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