Undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev spoke about hie controversial twelve round majority decision over Dmitry Bivol on Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“I feel not bad. I did not good today,” said the 39-year-old Beterbiev. “I wanted to box today with more quality. I don’t know why, but I didn’t like this fight, but I’ll be better one day…of course, it’s a tough fight because Dmitry is a world champion, too. He has good skills, maybe better than me. But today, Allah chose me…you know, during the fight, we always try to change something. But, you know, maybe I just wanted to punch him. Maybe that’s why I’m not delivering more punches. I don’t know…if His Excellency wants it {a rematch}, then we can do it.”
Bivol said, “I am a warrior. I have to do everything perfect. And I don’t have any explanation because it could look like excuses. I just congratulate Artur and his team. He deserves it. No problem. I just have time to make another decision for my future. That’s it…I don’t know. I just did my job. I felt that I could have done better. I always could be better. It’s just the opinion of the judges. Congratulations, Artur. I didn’t see the fight. He won. What can I say?”
Hardly controversial Fight News!
I believe bivol did enough to win the match. 7 rounds to bivol and 5 for berteviev! Bivol was a bit more busier in the first 5 rounds and threw more combinations in tbe remaining rounds to split them with berteviev! The fight should have been a draw at the munimun! This bad decisions are going to start hurting this great fights! His exellency alashishi seened upset with bivol at the end of the interview pointing fingers at him! A rematch should follow after this to give bivil his fair share of opportunity! Benavidez will definatelly get destroyed by either guy no doubt!
They are using Beterbiev’s English skills against him. I’m sure he meant “I’ll be better next time” I thought Bivol was throwing punches to get Beterbiev off of him, but it was a good fight. I’ve never seen Bivol put in such pressure. I think Beterbiev KO’s Bivol in a second fight.
Bivol wins decision in rematch, if there is one.
For both boxers it was not there best. Sure Artur didn’t get a KO, but Bicol got hit way more than he ever has. I doubt a 2nd fight would be much different. The only way Bicol could win is he opens and is more aggressive. However that’s exactly the kind of fight Artur wants. So I think, expecting to see a much different style fight won’t happen.
A lot to learn from both fighters opinions after the fight about the veredic and their performance; I mean, a lot to learn from them by those sore losers like Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez, for instance.
Benavidez in 2!
Don’t think so. Benavides is a high volume puncher ( like Joe Calaghe was) and wears you down. But he isn’t at this level and either fighter would defeat him with ease
Gary Pine, NO boxer in the world today is beating David Benavidez with ease. There is no such thing as “easy” at this level. In fact, it’s entirely possible David beats both of them.
I think both men were gracious in defeat and victory. A few boxers could learn from that. Can see a rematch down the track.
Close fight but not wildly exciting. Was surprised a beard that thick was allowed, That’s a lot of cushioning. They used to have to trim them to 1/2 inch.
Cause he is a Muslim he’s aloud to keep it.
I was rooting for Beterbiev but he almost NEVER CONNECTED. Only blocked shots. Terrible decision. Artur and his team knew they lost!
Good fight but I think they didn’t use body shots.
Rooting? Nah, you just a hater, lol! Punchstats even at the end of 12. Decision was perfect. Are you Bivol’s momma?
LOL!!! You still think punch stats are legit?!?
It seem like beterbiev felt that he didn’t fight as good as he wanted.. I think Bivols boxing had a lot to do with that.. and beterbiev actually acknowledges that. From his interview you can tell that he wouldn’t have minded a draw. Specially coming from someone who has KOed everyone he’s fought until Bivol. But fighters know.. for an undisputed fight of this magnitude. A draw would have been better considering how close it was in the judges view. They liked the pressure and power punches but a lot of them didn’t connect. I guess it depends on what kind of style you like. I like boxers and how they use angles to disarm their opponents. Imo, a rematch is necessary. Both of these guy are on the top of their division. With two opposite styles.. it’s not surprising that it’ll be controversial 9/10 times unless somebody gets Koed..
both fighters were superb beterbiev won cause he has a big huge head that bivol couldnt damage
When I see and hear them, it strikes me how much I appreciate these two humble gentlemen, and that the damned trash talk you so often hear before many fights is not needed…
They both showed class, for sure.
American fighters take please take notes.
Instead of arguing about who won and who
may have lost we need to let Morrell and
Benevidez enter into the mix to fight Bivol
and Beterbiev. 175 and 154 are stacked right
now. Pleased to find out Catterall and Regis will be fighting soon. My guy Curmel Moten
took care of business last night in Philly.
Hat tip to Danny Garcia for letting him on the
show and giving the kid some work. Left hook liver shot was the finisher. On to the
next.
Would not rank this fight in the top 100 I have watched over the last 75 years but it was interesting. Beterbiev won the championship rounds . Bivol was in great shape and fought well in short spurts. Both men were hesitant to risk body shots but this will change when the rematches take place.
Interesting, they both seem unsatisfied in their performance.
This was an extremely close match that probably should have been scored a draw, but there were some rounds that could have gone either way since they were almost dead even.
More people than I expected are calling the verdict a robbery, and I really think they need to revisit what that term is supposed to mean in a boxing context. If you thought Bivol won that is completely fine and I might even say overall he has a better argument for the win, but when you have rounds so close you absolutely cannot call it a ‘robbery’.
FYI to people: yes Betervbiev had a lot of his shots blocked/dodged, but he was throwing more and plenty got through too, as evidence by Bivol’s face. You can’t give points to shots that get blocked, but that doesn’t mean you should give points to the guy doing the blocking either. Its about the quality and quantity of the punches that end up landing.
I thought Bivol would win, I thought he would get the decision when I heard the 116-112 score and I thought he did enough to win. Reminds me of Hoya vs Trinidad because Bivol slowed down late. I was hoping one of those punches Bivol landed would finally drop Beterbiev but it didnt happen. I think Beterbiev has more room for improvement in the rematch and has a better chance. Bivol would be smart to throw his combos and clinch as much as he can to slow the pace down in a rematch.
Congrats to Beterbieve for becoming the Undisputed Light Heavyweight Champion. I just think Bivol did enough to warrant a close decision. The unofficial card even had Bivol up in the last round. Beterbieve was on the pressure for the majority of the fight but looked boring doing it. He threw almost twice as many punches than Bivol looking like the busier fighter on paper, but Bivol even though was out thrown he out landed Beterbieve and looked flashy doing it. Bivol had landed with 30% of his punches to Beterbieve’s 18% how da f@ck is that a win? Just saying. Bivol looked like the better fighter out there. Bivol’s jabs were giving Beterbieve problems when utilized and gave combos. But looks are deceiving. There are going to be two different opinions by die hard fans of who won this fight as either man could have won. There needs to be a rematch and not in Saudi Arabia to make sure the judging is fair. Idk what was the gripe of his majesty was in the 10th round but the man was angry and disgusted shaking his head when shown on screen. The rematch needs to be in Vegas. I don’t trust the Saudi’s. I don’t think they are great for the sport.
I think Bivol done just enough to win by a small margin. I do not agree with that one judge giving Beterbieve a 116-112 score as the other two judges gave the fight a 114-114 and a 115-113. If anything it could have ended as a draw. Beterbieve did not look impressive at all. For a high prolific fight as it was, was kinda boring.
Great fight close but right decision!
His Exellency, my ass!
I wish more fighters could be as humble as Bivol. This was a fight I hated to see a fighter losing.
Both of these men were very humble. I much more appreciate this than the tactics of Tyson Fury & dad John Fury; head butts; insults; refusing to acknowledge defeat; etc.
This was NOT a controversial decision. It could have went either way and it just so happens two of the three judges leaned towards Beterbiev.
Most agree it was a good fight. Bivol didn’t empty the tank like Sugar Ray Leonard did against Marvin Hagler. He would’ve been knocked out.