The recent light heavyweight championship fight between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol has sparked significant controversy, primarily due to the judging decision made by Polish referee Pavel Kardyn, who scored the fight 116-112 in favor of Beterbiev. This decision has led Bivol's team to file a formal protest against the result, citing a desire to understand the basis of the judge's scoring and potentially seeking sanctions against him. Bivol's camp argues that he executed a well-planned strategy and managed to withstand the entire fight without being knocked down, a feat no previous opponent of Beterbiev had achieved. Despite Beterbiev's power, the fight statistics showed a close contest, with many rounds being decided by narrow margins. Bivol's performance was marked by effective defense, which played a crucial role in the fight's outcome.
Beterbiev, who is approaching 40 years of age, demonstrated remarkable resilience and stamina, especially after recovering from knee surgery and an extended layoff. Many had doubted his ability to last the full 12 rounds against Bivol, but he proved his critics wrong with a strong performance. However, the absence of a knockout led some to question the legitimacy of his victory. The aftermath of the fight has generated a call for a rematch, with both fighters expressing interest in facing each other again. The potential for a rematch is further fueled by public sentiment and comments from boxing officials, including the chairman of the General Authority of Entertainment in Saudi Arabia, who sided with Bivol regarding the judging decision. This rematch could not only revive interest in the light heavyweight division but also cement the legacy of both fighters in boxing history, akin to other famous trilogies in the sport.
