Dmitry Bivol launches formal action to force Artur Beterbiev rematch

Dmitry Bivol’s squad person formally submitted a petition for an contiguous rematch against Artur Beterbiev aft his highly arguable satellite rubric defeat.

Bivol and Beterbiev met successful Saudi Arabia successful a historical undisputed rubric showdown to crown the airy heavyweight division’s archetypal sole champion since Roy Jones Jr 25 years ago.

Beterbiev, already WBC, WBO and IBF champion, added the WBA loop to his postulation after securing a bulk determination triumph connected the judges scorecards successful Riyadh.

That determination has been wide criticised, with Bivol’s promoter Eddie Hearn labelling it ‘sickening’. Polish justice Pawel Kardyni had scored the bout 116-112, giving Beterbiev 8 of the 12 rounds, with Hearn insisting helium ‘should ne'er enactment successful the athletics again’.

Bivol’s squad person present officially launched their entreaty with the 4 governing bodies seeking an contiguous rematch betwixt the 2 Russians, boxing newsman Jake Donovan reports.

Their entreaty volition effort to gully comparisons to the 1999 heavyweight rubric combat betwixt Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis, a combat that was ruled a draw. The effect that nighttime was booed heavy by the assemblage with Lewis wide considered to person been the wide winner. A rematch was instantly ordered, taking spot 8 months aboriginal successful Las Vegas.

Bivol’s squad volition besides reason the bulk of viewers connected Saturday nighttime had him winning the fight.

Bivol’s manager Vadim Kornilov has besides confirmed they are inactive seeking a effect to their petition to reappraisal justice Kardyni’s contentious 116-112 scorecard.

‘I don’t privation to disrespect Beterbiev, due to the fact that they’re some unthinkable fighters, but I find it sickening that, aft a beingness of hard work, Bivol is not undisputed champion tonight,’ Hearn said connected Saturday.

‘I conflict to find anybody successful our row; a enactment behind, the TV row, who didn’t people the combat to Bivol.

‘To find a justice springiness that combat 116-112, and springiness Dmitry Bivol 4 rounds successful that fight; this justice should ne'er enactment successful the athletics again.

‘Everything you’ll get retired of Dmitry is: ‘I tin bash better; it’s boxing. I instrumentality the judges’ scorecard’, but I don’t bargain it due to the fact that you don’t merit that aft that performance. It was an implicit boxing masterclass. It was the cleanable performance.

‘He tin beryllium better, but that was a axenic amusement of concentration, accomplishment and defence, with offence thrown in. Bivol is arguably pound-for-pound No. 1 successful the sport. He deserves contiguous to beryllium present arsenic the undisputed light-heavyweight champion of the world.’

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