Artur Beterbiev beat Dmitry Bivol via majority decision to become undisputed light-heavyweight champion.

Following twelve elite and close rounds of boxing, Beterbiev’s wait for the decision was an uncomfortable one given he had never previously been taken the distance. He got the nod over Bivol with two scorecards in his favour and the other a draw, 114-114, 115-113 and 116-112.

Bivol’s promoter Eddie Hearn said in the aftermath that the judge who scored it 116-112 – Poland’s Pawel Kardyni – should never work again. Speaking on DAZN, he said his fighter was ‘robbed.’

“Of course. He was robbed of the undisputed championship tonight. I cannot believe you give Dmitry Bivol four rounds. It was a close fight, it was a great fight. They all knew in the corner. They were all standing there waiting for the decision, the word got out that Beterbiev had won and they are all looking at each other. They cannot believe what they’ve got away with tonight.”

On the TNT Sports broadcast, the British promoter continued to express his distaste.

“How can we not talk about what just happened in the ring? We wanna just forget about it, we wanna forget that in one of the biggest fights of our generation, the most important fight of Dmitry Bivol’s life, you give him four rounds in that fight?”

“They got in the ring, they stood backed up to their corner, they knew Artur Beterbiev lost this fight. Top Rank new Artur Beterbiev lost this fight.”

Top Rank’s CEO Bob Arum, who wasn’t in attendance on the night, has now taken to social media to congratulate his man on a ‘well-deserved’ win.

“Congratulations to the new undisputed light heavyweight champion, Artur Beterbiev, on a well-deserved victory this past Saturday. He is truly one of the greatest fighters of this era.”

Fans, fighters, promoters and pundits alike all agree that a rematch is both warranted and worthwhile.