Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol just the latest in a year of controversial decisions

An attempt to be undisputed in a fistic sport such as boxing is tantamount to seeking greatness. That was what Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol had in mind when they went head-to-head last Saturday.

Beterbiev and Bivol needed that fight to cement their legacies at light heavyweight and each undefeated fighter battled to protect their invincibility. The fight which many expected to be fireworks took a more technical dimension, with Beterbiev taking a contentious majority decision victory.

Both Beterbiev and Bivol took turns to control various moments in a 12-round championship but neither succeeded in truly pulling away. There were close rounds that many boxing enthusiasts continue to argue about.

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The contention is about who won which close round, and while many believe Bivol did enough damage to steal a decision win, the judges thought otherwise. Also, others felt Beterbiev managed to win the contest via a dominant display in the championship rounds.

Bivol’s camp has lamented the decision loss, calling for an immediate rematch. But without a rematch clause in the fight contract, who knows if Beterbiev’s camp would kowtow to a possible second fight against his fiercest rival.

Only time will tell. The controversy surrounding the fight brings to mind other fights that have witnessed a similar fate this year:

O’Shaquie Foster vs Robson Conceicao

Date: July 6, 2024

Location: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey

Records at the time: Foster 22-2 (12), Conceicao 18-2-1 (9)

On the line: WBC junior lightweight title

Result: Conceicao SD12 (116-112, 112-116, 115-113)

Then holder of the WBC belt, Foster looked to have retained, but judges Anthony Lundy and Paul Wallace had a different plan. For some observers, Foster won 11 out of 12 rounds but the judges saw it differently.

A disappointed Foster, who was close to tears after the announcement of the split decision loss, called for an immediate rematch after describing the verdict as stolen. Next month, Foster will have an opportunity to reclaim his title against a Conceicao who is determined to prove his doubters wrong.

Vergil Ortiz Jnr vs Serhii Bohachuk

Date: August 10, 2024

Location: Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada

Records at the time: Ortiz 21-0 (21), Bohachuk 24-1 (23)

On the line: WBC interim junior middleweight title

Results: Ortiz MD12 (113-113, 114-112, 114-112)

Vergil Ortiz Jnr survived two knockdowns in the first and eighth rounds to record a hard-fought majority decision victory over Serhii Bohachuk. The close contest saw Texas’ Ortiz needing to do more in the final three rounds to get the decisive win.

It was the first time Ortiz went the distance since turning pro eight years ago. Normally, Ortiz earns a stoppage win over his opponents… then along came Ukraine’s Bohachuk.

The Ukrainian made sure he ate Ortiz’s hard-hitting shots with pride, retaliating in equal measure to exceed expectations.

Bohachuk felt his aggressiveness should’ve been awarded with a decisive victory and complained about the judges’ scoring which handed Ortiz a controversial win.

Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk

Date: May 18, 2024

Location: Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Records at the time: Fury 34-0-1 (24 KOs)

On the line: Undisputed heavyweight title

Results: Usyk SD (114-113, 113-114, 115-112)

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk came together to crown an undisputed heavyweight champion. The fight had so many close rounds with both fighters opening the bout in a keenly-contested manner.

While Usyk applied pressure and landed power punches, Fury took advantage of his jabs to keep his Ukrainian opponent at bay. Fury took over the fight in Round 4, dominating proceedings and appearing to hurt Usyk in the sixth.

However, Usyk came back stronger in the latter rounds, mounting pressure and recording an official knockdown in round nine. Fury survived but judges awarded Usyk a split-decision victory..

Fury expressed dissatisfaction with the decision, even attributing Usyk’s triumph to Ukraine being at war. The Briton minced no words when he intimated he’d won the fight.

On December 21, Fury will have an opportunity to avenge his defeat when he and Usyk collide in an eagerly awaited rematch.

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].