Robbery? Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol labelled robbery by boxing fans

Artur Beterbiev won a majority decision over Dmitry Bivol, becoming the first undisputed light heavyweight champion in the four-belt era, in a rare matchup between the division's top fighters.

Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs), who held the WBC, WBO, and IBF titles, added the WBA belt to his collection, but his knockout streak came to an end. Known for his perfect knockout record, Beterbiev had to go the full distance against Bivol. He has been a 175-pound champion since 2017.

This fight had been long-awaited, marking the first undisputed champion in the division since Roy Jones Jr. vacated a title in 2000 during the three-belt era.

Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) had defended his belt 12 times before facing Beterbiev.

Originally scheduled for June 1, the fight was postponed when Beterbiev suffered a knee injury that required surgery. Bivol, eager to stay active, fought Malik Zinad on that date, earning a sixth-round TKO—his only stoppage victory in his last 10 fights.

The 33-year-old Russian WBA champion took on his fellow countryman, a silent but dangerous fighter with WBC, IBF, and WBO titles. Bivol controlled much of the fight and appeared on track to solidify his place among boxing’s elite. However, the judges’ decision surprised many, with one scoring the fight a 114-114 draw and the other two giving it to Beterbiev, 116-112 and 115-113.

After the fight, Bivol's promoter Eddie Hearn expressed disbelief, calling the judges' decision an "absolute joke" and claiming Bivol had been "robbed of the undisputed championship." The early rounds were tense and tactical, with explosive exchanges in the final minute, but by the fourth round, it seemed like Bivol was replicating his dominant performance against Canelo in 2022. He invited pressure from Beterbiev, the smaller but more aggressive fighter, and responded with sharp counterattacks.

Beterbiev’s relentless pressure paid off in the fifth round when he clipped Bivol, forcing him to evade disaster. By the sixth round, Bivol appeared to be struggling under the continuous onslaught but still managed to land counters from the ropes. In the seventh round, Bivol showed bravery, but Beterbiev took advantage of the openings created by Bivol’s boldness, landing powerful shots that shook him.

Both fighters conserved energy for the final minute of each round, with round eight following a similar pattern. Although Beterbiev landed heavy blows, Bivol’s frequent flurries secured him rounds. The ninth round was perhaps Bivol’s best, as he confidently maneuvered around the ring, evading the Chechen knockout artist chasing him, making it look almost like a sparring session at times.

Bivol faced a tough test in the tenth round, enduring a powerful right hand, but he continued to perform well. In the eleventh round, despite being briefly disrupted by a shot behind the ear, Bivol remained on course for victory. Beterbiev pressured him relentlessly, but Bivol responded with counters and even fired back with defiance.

The final round was a fierce Soviet slugfest, providing a dramatic conclusion to their rivalry.