Gennady Golovkin was shaking his head over the outcome of his bout with Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez - which was scored as a split draw - an outcome that has seen the judge responsible stood down by the Nevada Athletic Commission.

The eagerly anticipated middleweight showdown in Las Vegas failed to produce a clear winner, judge Adalaide Byrd drawing widespread criticism for scoring the bout 118-110 in favour of challenger Canelo.

Dave Moretti gave it 115-113 to WBA, WBC, IBF and IBO middleweight champion Golovkin, while Don Trella had it as a 114-114 draw.

The result prompted disbelief and anger from expert observers and armchair critics alike, and has left Byrd's top-level judging career in doubt.

"I'm not going to put her right back in," Nevada Athletic Commission executive director Bob Bennett was quoted as telling the Los Angeles Times.

"She'll still be in the business… but she needs to catch her breath. Unfortunately, she didn't do well. I can tell you she conducts training for us, takes judges under her wing … but her score was too wide."

Even Canelo's promoter Oscar De La Hoya did not attempt to conceal his bemusement at Byrd's interpretation.

"These guys fought their heart out," he said. "Gennady is a tremendous, tremendous champion and Canelo's a tremendous, tremendous champion. Everybody has their opinion but that's what made it such a great, great fight. The 118-110, I don't understand, I really don't. Byrd is a very competent judge but I just don't understand 118-110... 118-110 is a shocker."

Former IBF, WBA, WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev is no stranger to controversy in Las Vegas.

Last November in the famous Nevada city, Kovalev was on the losing end of a twelve round unanimous decision with Andre Ward. There were many who felt Kovalev had done enough to win.

Kovalev exercised a rematch clause. The second fight took place in June, also in Las Vegas, and saw Ward stop Kovalev in eight rounds.

According to Kovalev, in the closing sequence that forced the referee to stop the fight - the Russian boxer claims he was hit with several low bows that forced him to sit on the ropes. He was very unhappy with the referee in the aftermath of the bout.

Kovalev watched the fight from Saturday night and felt there was no question that Golovkin won.

"This is a real problem and there is no solution. Golovkin won this fight clearly. It took place in Las Vegas and there is nothing to be surprised about [in terms of the outcome]. It's not a sport anymore, it's pure business. I'm convinced that it's impossible to find out in Las Vegas who is really the best in their weight class," Kovalev stated.