Artur Beterbiev ordered to take on IBF mandatory challenger despite Dmitry Bivol's rematch plea
Published 17/10/2024 at 23:44 GMT+1
Artur Beterbiev has been ordered to defend his IBF light-heavyweight title against mandatory challenger Michael Eifert, despite Dmitry Bivol's attempt to secure a rematch against the 39-year-old after his split-decision defeat last Saturday. Eddie Hearn and Bivol's manager Vadim Kornilov both publicly criticised the judges’ scorecards, which were 114-114, 115-113 and 116-112 for Beterbiev.
Highlights: Beterbiev defeats Bivol in majority decision to become undisputed champion
Video credit: TNT Sports
Artur Beterbiev has been ordered to defend his IBF light-heavyweight title against mandatory challenger Michael Eifert.
The 39-year-old became the division's first four-belt world champion after securing a split-decision victory over Dmitry Bivol last Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
In the wake of the defeat, Bivol’s promoter Eddie Hearn publicly criticised the judges’ scorecards, which were 114-114, 115-113 and 116-112 for Beterbiev.
The following Wednesday, Bivol sent a request through his lawyer to the WBO, WBA, IBF and WBC, pleading for their support in securing a rematch of the Beterbiev bout.
But the IBF has since responded saying that while Beterbiev can request an "exception" to make a voluntary defence against Bivol, he has been ordered to begin “negotiations” with mandatory challenger Eifert.
Last Saturday’s bout saw Bivol suffer the first loss of his 24-fight career, while Beterbiev was taken the distance for the first time as a professional.
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Dmitry Bivol
Image credit: Getty Images
Hearn fumed at the result, telling DAZN: “How can we not talk about what just happened in the ring? We wanna just forget about it, we wanna forget that in one of the biggest fights of our generation, the most important fight of Dmitry Bivol’s life, you give him four rounds in that fight?
“It’s absolutely disgusting. The whole corner, you heard in the 10th round, the corner said to him [Beterbiev], you have to knock him out to win this fight.
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“They got in the ring, they stood backed up to their corner, they knew Artur Beterbiev lost this fight. Top Rank knew Artur Beterbiev lost this fight.
“Then the word got around that Artur Beterbiev had won a majority decision. I’m absolutely baffled and disgusted at a scorecard of 116-112. 115-113, I don’t like it. 8-4 to Dmitry Bivol. You want to give him four rounds? He boxed beautifully in there tonight.”
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