Beterbiev wins the “undisputed” light heavyweight championship with majority decision victory over Bivol

By Tom Donelson / Member Boxing Writers Association of Ameria (BWAA)

There was time that a fight between two elites undefeated fighters fighting for the undisputed light heavyweight title would have been a big thing but for most sports fan, boxing is no longer the major sport it once was, and it is approaching the level most Americans view soccer.  It is disappearing and if you look at the big fights and in particular among light heavyweights and beyond, they are dominated by European fighters where interest still reign. 

Heavyweight division is strictly a foreign affair as Usyk and Fury will fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship. At this moment, I view Dubois title as being granted because of politics as Usyk decided to allow Fury a deserve rematch since they are two best Heavyweight in the world.

Dmitry Bivol is classic boxer who already defeated Canelo Alvarez and Beterbiev has won every bout he participated by knock out and been a champion of his version of the light heavyweight since 2017.

 Coming into the fight, CompuBox history had Beterbiev being the busier fighter and as accurate as the boxer Bivol. Bivol jabs more but Beterbiev threw the double of power shots.  As the boxer, Bivol had less margin of error as Beterbiev power can overcome a lead. Boxing is a sport where a fighter an overcome a 10-round deficit with one punch as George Foreman showed when he defeated Mike Moorer with one shot in the tenth round of a fighter he was losing badly.

As for the fight itself, it was a good fight as both fighters gave what they got.  Bivol, the boxer, landed his share of punches while Beterbiev pushed the action.   Bivol won the first round with a jam and a few power shots, and he still continued to do this in the second round.   Bivol showed nor reluctance to fight on the inside and even began roughly handling Beterbiev.   Bivol landed 36 punches versus to Beterbiev 23, and I had Bivol up 30-27.

Beterbiev found a home with his piston-like jab in the fourth and fifth as Bivol blocked many of these punches, but those hard punches had their impact as they went through the defense.   Sixth was even in punches and like many in the fight, close rounds to score. I had the fight even, but others had it 58-56 for  Bivol.

The seventh round may have been the best round of the fight as Bivol shook Beterbiev with power shots and Beterbiev countered with  big shots of his own.  I gave this round to Bivol since he landed more shots including more power shots and now it was 67-66. Beterbiev found a way to throw enough punches to take the eighth round.   Round now saw Bivol snap his combinations and move out of harms way as Beterbiev couldn’t sustain pressures against the slippery Bivol.  The score was 86-85 for Bivol.

Bivol showed defensive mastery with his hands held high and landed counters to take a close round and the score was 96-94 on my card but over the next two rounds, Beterbiev came on strong as he landed 29 punches and in the eleventh, he forced Bivol to retreat and in the twelfth, it was a tight round that could gone either way.  I had it for Bivol  and that gave him 115-113 lead on my card, but it could have gone Beterbiev.  The judges had it 116-112, 115-113 for Beterbiev and 114-114.  I could see 115-113 for Beterbiev but had trouble with the 116-112 score.

The fight was close as Compubox showed.  Bivol landed 142 punches to Beterbiev 137 with Bivol slightly out jabbing and Beterbiev landed 6 more power punches and remember, Bivol shook Beterbiev in the seventh round. This fight was close and even between two great elite fighters.  This was a fight that lived up to hype.  Both ESPN and Bleacher Report had it 115-113 Bivol and rematch is now called for. 

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