In his immediate post-fight reactions, Bivol was graceful in defeat and opted not to resort to excuses and blame games; he was duly applauded for that stance. But recent happenings within his camp suggest a different turn.
Dmitry Bivol has lodged a protest to the four sanctioning bodies over the scoring that determined he lost a majority decision to Artur Beterbiev Saturday in their undisputed light-heavyweight title fight in Saudi Arabia.
The move, filed by Bivol attorney Pat English, isn’t expected to overturn the decision, but it does serve as added ammunition in Bivol’s effort to gain an immediate rematch with Russian countryman Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs).
In losing his World Boxing Association belt, Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) saw judges Manuel Oliver Palomo (114-114), Glenn Feldman (115-113) and Pawel Kardyni (116-112) award Beterbiev the majority decision triumph.
CompuBox punch stats reflected the narrow margin, with Bivol outlanding Beterbiev 142-137 in total punches and in jabs while Beterbiev rallied to win the final three rounds and outlanded Bivol, 90-84, in total power punches.
Saudi Arabia’s boxing power broker Turki Alalshikh has expressed interest in staging a rematch following the entertaining, competitive bout and Bivol wants the second crack given his ability to become the first man to go the distance with the now-39-year-old Beterbiev.
The protest follows the precedent of heavyweight Lennox Lewis’ 1999 protest to his first title fight against Evander Holyfield, which was universally panned as a “travesty” as judges Eugenia Williams (115-113 Holyfield) and Larry O’Connell (115-115) caused a split draw and ultimately apologized for their scorecards in a bout Lewis had seemingly won comfortably.
The outrage triggered a rematch just eight months later, which Lewis won by unanimous decision.
Bivol’s camp, including promoter Eddie Hearn, is most chafed by judge Kardyni. Few saw the bout by that wide of a disparity, and Hearn has said Kardyni should never work another title fight.
It's quite unclear how far this would go. But looking at how close the fight was, one wonders whether this step is even warranted.
By Samuel Opoku Amoah
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