Robert Garcia calls for rematch between Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol

Robert Garcia has refused to call Artur Beterbiev’s narrow victory over Dmitry Bivol a robbery, despite scoring the fight in favor of the latter.

The majority decision win over Beterbiev, 21-0 (20), won against Bivol, 23-1 (12), in their undisputed 175-pound championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, has raised concerns over the judges scoring of the fight. But Garcia, who felt Bivol deserved the decision win, described the fight as a very close one.

“It was a very technical fight,” Garcia told Fight Hub TV. “I think the fight was very close. Personally, I haven’t watched it a second time, but watching it, I thought Bivol pulled it off. But I’m not mad either.

“I’m not claiming robbery because if it was so close, it could have gone either way. I think the last two rounds probably made a big difference.”

Garcia called for an immediate rematch and said the boxing world deserves another thrilling encounter between the 39-year-old Beterbiev and Bivol, 33. The experienced trainer’s call for a rematch adds to promoter Eddie Hearn’s earlier call for the two great Russian fighters to face each other again.

“I think it was more technical than what we expected; at least what I expected,” he said. “I thought it was gonna be more of a war: some back and forth, maybe a knockdown, maybe even a knockout.

“What made the difference I think were the last three rounds which went to Beterbiev. Those combinations, he just kept throwing, and Bivol focused too much on blocking and moving around. So, I think those last rounds could’ve made the difference. It was a very close fight.”

Meanwhile, Beterbiev could now wait and face the winner of David Benavidez and David Morrell. Benavidez and Morrell are reportedly scheduled to slug it out on January 25 in Las Vegas. The Russian is also in line to face Canelo Alvarez if the super middleweight king decides to move to 175.

“I think if the fight happens, it won’t be anytime soon,” said Garcia. “They’ll probably go with a rematch, then the winner fights the winner of Morrell-Benavidez. So, we’re talking a year or a year and a half from now. 

“I think Beterbiev will be 41 and Canelo might take a chance and say, ‘I want to fight him,’ because Canelo is a very strong fighter.”

Bernard Neequaye is a sports journalist with a specialty in boxing coverage. He wrote a boxing column titled “From The Ringside” in his native Ghana for years. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) at @BernardNeequaye, LinkedIn at Bernard Neequaye and through email at [email protected].