Beterbiev negated most of Bivol abilities ....

[Superbee]

I didnt score the rounds, there were some close ones in there. I was expecting a Beterbiev KO but he started late. I was surprised most by so many people picking a Bivol KO, guys dont just run in and press beterbiev they get KO'd doing that, beter can counter off the back foot and has dropped a lot of guys that way.

Bivol is VERY smart though I give him that, he survived when nobody else has. He neutralized beter's overhand right and even said his hand is bruised from taking so many of them on the glove, he kept that left hand close to block that looping right. The times bivol wasnt throwing much late I think that is for a reason, a combination of gassing and not wanting to eat counters. I think he did the best he could. Im sure he planned to throw more but when he felt bivols power he knew it wasnt exaggerated and the real thing.

I think most people were expecting a definitive win either way and that didnt happen. I would still like to see the rematch.

A win on points was always to be close considering who we're talking about here.. A TKO could only come from one side and we realized that in the middle rounds were Bivol had some success pummeling Artur and Artur wouldn't budge much, instead coming back to Bivol very fast and strong... Same can't be said for Bivol who basically went High-Guard-Not-Throwing-Anything for most of the 10th and 11th round...Bivol felt the Power... He knew he couldn't get caught straight in the later rounds, he knew he couldn't afford to go down and let Artur finish the job until the inevitable submission... He knew he couldn't trade the power with Beterbiev... Fascinating fight for the hard cores and purists..

On a side note: People (and Bivol himself) talked about the left side of his face being destroyed mainly by blocked shots "that don't count" .... My trivia Question is the following: What if Bivol went down with one of those shots ? He would get the count, right ? So double standards or just a random glitch in the rules ?

[Tatabanya]

It's simple: Beterbiev hurt Bivol, whereas Bivol never hurt Beterbiev.

[PRINCEKOOL]

One of the major factors for victory in this fight for Dimtri Bivol 'Was the importance of his movement. But I think many people underrated, Arthur Beterbiev's movement and footwork in this fight. When you really analyse both fighters on this specific attribute, you will see from past fights that Bivol does not really have that much better footwork and movement'.

So from the beginning of this fight, it was apparent that almost immediately Dimtri Bivol was under serious pressure 'And being pushed way out of his dominant zone. This was kind of similar to when Ricky Hatton fought Kostya Tszyu and Floyd Mayweather Junior. Hatton's footwork and movement was underrated, as he had the ability to move forward and side ways at extreme speed. Which saw him able to put serious pressure on both Tszyu and Mayweather Junior'.

Floyd Mayweather Junior was able to adapt, and incorporate more of of inside game, utilize his brute strength and rough house tactics 'Bivol in comparison against Beterbiev, actually fought well under pressure, but? Nobody can say, that he was at any point in this fight clearly skill for skill the more dominant fighter in the large majority of the rounds'.

I stated coming into the fight, that POWER will be another determining factor in this fight. I regarded Dimtri Bivol as the slight favorite coming into the fight, and envisioned a fight where 'Bivol was able to win rounds, and score points. But in the process of this faction, not really being able to inflict serious damage upon Beterbiev. Not a high enough level of damage, to hinder Beterbiev's offense and momentum moving forward in the fight'.

I believe this style of action did play out, but? What Arthur Beterbiev did better than expected for most people 'Was compete with Bivol in the area, of pure skill for skill boxing'.

Note: Dimtri Bivol was the first opponent of Arthur Beterbiev to survive the full 12 rounds 'So that is at least a positive, which he can take from the fight. I don't really think Beterbiev seriously hurt Bivol, but his power and brute strength was clearly inflicting damage. There seemed to be frequent moments when Beterbiev';s momentum of just moving forward, was enough to knock Bivol off balance and further negatively effect his pure skill for skill boxing along with his Mid to Long Range game'.

I personally don't actually think Arthur Beterbiev was in his best form, but he still found a way to win 'Just like Oleksandr Uysk vs Tyson Fury I. Both Beterbiev and Uysk have fought better fights skill for skill, and their overall condition from what I have observe has been greater'.

We don't know how great of a Training camp Arthur Beterbiev has had, if he was to rate his training camp compared to his former fights 'I just sense that maybe he would not rate his preparation as his absolute maximum best and beyond. But systematically Beterbiev was still able to mold himself into a solid fighting version of himself'.

Chris Eubank Junior at the last press conference before this fight weekend 'Stated, that when fighters reach top level. It is not just about one training camp or, a period of weeks and months leading up to a fight. It is also about how over the duration of a fighters career, how that fighter has dedicated to the sport with their level of work ethic'.

To conclude: Because work ethic over years and decades accumulates, and has a effect on a fighters performance in multiple ways 'Longevity, and resolve. Also there may be times in a fighters career, where they are in the moment? Not really having their most optimal training camps or preparation. But compared to others fighters who have not shown their level of work ethic, maybe they would rate the preparation's still as great. This is when the years and decades, 1000's upon 1000's of hours worth of meticulous and systematic training and study is going to surface. Because those actions and behaviours are in a fighters reserves, it is transferable form of experience. We have seen this attribute historically surface most recently in fighters such as Bernard Hopkins and Floyd Mayweather Junior during the latter part of their careers'.

And last night, I believe it surfaced in Arthur Beterbiev performance and was a major factor in why he won this fight 'Beterbiev potentially may be even better in the rematch. If he can maintain a consistency in his training, and build upon this performance. Both fighters can improve their game, but most likely? Dimtri Bivol has just fought one of his best fights ever skill for skill, physiological and in terms of the durability and resolve he showed. Arthur Beterbiev for me has fought better, but even still he was able to find a way to win. Which is a historical trait that many all-time great fighters have in their game' etc.

[Theshotyoudontsee]

One of the major factors for victory in this fight for Dimtri Bivol 'Was the importance of his movement. But I think many people underrated, Arthur Beterbiev's movement and footwork in this fight. When you really analyse both fighters on this specific attribute, you will see from past fights that Bivol does not really have that much better footwork and movement'.

So from the beginning of this fight, it was apparent that almost immediately Dimtri Bivol was under serious pressure 'And being pushed way out of his dominant zone. This was kind of similar to when Ricky Hatton fought Kostya Tszyu and Floyd Mayweather Junior. Hatton's footwork and movement was underrated, as he had the ability to move forward and side ways at extreme speed. Which saw him able to put serious pressure on both Tszyu and Mayweather Junior'.

Floyd Mayweather Junior was able to adapt, and incorporate more of of inside game, utilize his brute strength and rough house tactics 'Bivol in comparison against Beterbiev, actually fought well under pressure, but? Nobody can say, that he was at any point in this fight clearly skill for skill the more dominant fighter in the large majority of the rounds'.

I stated coming into the fight, that POWER will be another determining factor in this fight. I regarded Dimtri Bivol as the slight favorite coming into the fight, and envisioned a fight where 'Bivol was able to win rounds, and score points. But in the process of this faction, not really being able to inflict serious damage upon Beterbiev. Not a high enough level of damage, to hinder Beterbiev's offense and momentum moving forward in the fight'.

I believe this style of action did play out, but? What Arthur Beterbiev did better than expected for most people 'Was compete with Bivol in the area, of pure skill for skill boxing'.

Note: Dimtri Bivol was the first opponent of Arthur Beterbiev to survive the full 12 rounds 'So that is at least a positive, which he can take from the fight. I don't really think Beterbiev seriously hurt Bivol, but his power and brute strength was clearly inflicting damage. There seemed to be frequent moments when Beterbiev';s momentum of just moving forward, was enough to knock Bivol off balance and further negatively effect his pure skill for skill boxing along with his Mid to Long Range game'.

I personally don't actually think Arthur Beterbiev was in his best form, but he still found a way to win 'Just like Oleksandr Uysk vs Tyson Fury I. Both Beterbiev and Uysk have fought better fights skill for skill, and their overall condition from what I have observe has been greater'.

We don't know how great of a Training camp Arthur Beterbiev has had, if he was to rate his training camp compared to his former fights 'I just sense that maybe he would not rate his preparation as his absolute maximum best and beyond. But systematically Beterbiev was still able to mold himself into a solid fighting version of himself'.

Chris Eubank Junior at the last press conference before this fight weekend 'Stated, that when fighters reach top level. It is not just about one training camp or, a period of weeks and months leading up to a fight. It is also about how over the duration of a fighters career, how that fighter has dedicated to the sport with their level of work ethic'.

To conclude: Because work ethic over years and decades accumulates, and has a effect on a fighters performance in multiple ways 'Longevity, and resolve. Also there may be times in a fighters career, where they are in the moment? Not really having their most optimal training camps or preparation. But compared to others fighters who have not shown their level of work ethic, maybe they would rate the preparation's still as great. This is when the years and decades, 1000's upon 1000's of hours worth of meticulous and systematic training and study is going to surface. Because those actions and behaviours are in a fighters reserves, it is transferable form of experience. We have seen this attribute historically surface most recently in fighters such as Bernard Hopkins and Floyd Mayweather Junior during the latter part of their careers'.

And last night, I believe it surfaced in Arthur Beterbiev performance and was a major factor in why he won this fight 'Beterbiev potentially may be even better in the rematch. If he can maintain a consistency in his training, and build upon this performance. Both fighters can improve their game, but most likely? Dimtri Bivol has just fought one of his best fights ever skill for skill, physiological and in terms of the durability and resolve he showed. Arthur Beterbiev for me has fought better, but even still he was able to find a way to win. Which is a historical trait that many all-time great fighters have in their game' etc.

Good analysis. Biev boxed very well. I see him aging a tiny bit, just a bit. It will catch up to him. If they rematch inside a year, I could see Biev getting the KO. That said, the clock stops for no man.If it happens when Biev is 40, Bivol might have a shot.

I really see a rematch as being basically the same fight. Bivol isn't risking being too aggressive and Biev would push the action. In Biev's prime he KOs Bivol IMO.

Biev competes in any era if you ask me. His power is all time.

[LarryMerchant'sBottle]

this fight was a highly technical chess match

Biv's clean counters to the head and Bet's venomous bodyshots made it watchable

technical chess match with clean punches > brawls and Mexican shootouts

Not always! What Barrera/Morales and Leonard/Hearns displayed against each other was high skilled and calculated aggression. As much as I love watching a tactical bout, I would rather see guys who are highly skilled bobbing and weaving, yet countering and making effort to hurt their opponent. They're in the hurt business for a reason...

[MikeyMike100]

It's simple: Beterbiev hurt Bivol, whereas Bivol never hurt Beterbiev.

Bivol hurt Beterbiev in round 7

[SouthpawRight]

Bivol hurt Beterbiev in round 7

I was surprised the most hurtful headshots were Biv’s work

wasnt expecting that

Bet’s venom came in the form of a taxing body attack

light heavies are all big men and capable of ko

[IceTrayDaGang]

stfu!!! bivol won and got robbed! this is what's wrong with boxing.. fan base on their fighter's nutts and cant admit defeat. beterbeiv and his team knew they loss that's why after the fight, beterbeiv and his team were at his corner and took a while to come to the center of the ring right when they were announcing him the winner is.. and you can see the shock and relief on their faces when beterbeiv was announced as the winner.

[SouthpawRight]

stfu!!! bivol won and got robbed! this is what's wrong with boxing.. fan base on their fighter's nutts and cant admit defeat. beterbeiv and his team knew they loss that's why after the fight, beterbeiv and his team were at his corner and took a while to come to the center of the ring right when they were announcing him the winner is.. and you can see the shock and relief on their faces when beterbeiv was announced as the winner.

most important is Biv continues having the confidence of an undefeated fighter

A handful of tactical changes for the rematch will convince the judges this time that Biv win

[Donnie Herrera]

Bivol fought to survive, not to win. Very tough to pull that off. Especially with Biev landing much harder shots, controlling the pace and pushing the fight. If Bivol came forward even a little bit more, he gets stopped. He fought a smart fight and survived. But he lost.

An amazing thing to me is to hear people calling it a robbery because light punches from Bivol. In the amateurs it is basically who lands more. This is why in the pro's many amateurs never go anywhere. Effective aggression (ie making the other guy fight your fight, backing him up, landing the harder shots, all of which Biev did all night), ring generalship (dictating pace, Biev did it) and punch count in general, they all matter.

From a pure "who landed more shots" it was close to even. Biev landed much harder punches and they carry more weight in scoring. Yes Bivol had some moments, but he was running all night, forced back and his punches had little effect.

Honestly, I watched again to see if I was just pulling for Artur and I now see he easily won 8 rounds based on pro scoring criteria. The issue with boxing is, if a Bivol fan wants him to win, they suddenly fall back to amateur scoring because they are butthurt. Bivol came to won in more pitty pat punches. Solomon used to hit guys with those punches for 12 rounds, outlanding everyone, and he often lost.

Wasn't exactly that, but same basic idea. Look at the Lopez Ortiz fight. Ortiz won that in my eyes, but that is because Lopez can only counter and he landed next to nothing. Bivol got busted up.

People just dont understand how to score fights anymore. It isnt "what you like". All the categories have weight and it is near impossible to win fighting like that, UNLESS you dont get touched. Bivol was getting beat up.

Thanks for reminding me of Sam Solomon and his terrible style!!!...Now I can't stop seeing him flail around in my mind!!!...