The Dmitry Bivol–Artur Beterbiev fight on October 12 in Riyadh for the undisputed light heavyweight championship will go down as one of the best boxing matches ever. Both fighters had everything they had in the tank for all 12 rounds and gave everyone a spectacle to watch. But the result overshadowed this fierce performance when Beterbiev was crowned the undisputed champion with a scoreline of 114-114, 115-113, and 116-112.

The fight left fans in shock as it was much closer than the scores suggested, and some even had Bivol as their winner. Everyone around the globe went into a rant mode and declared it a ‘robbery’ demanding a rematch. But the 23-1 boxer was of a different mind and did not want to use the scoreline as an excuse for his first professional defeat. He conducted himself with poise and calm in the post-match interview while trying hard not to get emotional.

Dmitry Bivol has “No Excuses”

Looking back at the match, Dmitry Bivol stated, “I felt like everything was under control before the last round. I felt like I landed more clean punches.” The man from Kyrgyzstan was right in his assessment, as according to statistics he landed more punches than Beterbiev (142 to 137) despite Beterbiev’s higher punch attempts (682 to 423).

However, the former WBA champion did not want to use that as an excuse for his defeat. He knew that boxing involves so many things other than landing clean punches. “But boxing is not about only clean punches. It’s about how you impress judges, and you need to count sometimes rounds, not punches,” stated Bivol as he was searching for words to explain what had just happened.

The 6’0″ boxer went on to say that he refuses to make excuses for his loss, as doing so would diminish the sacrifices he’s made for the sport. Striving for perfection in the ring, he emphasized that every move he makes is deliberate and calculated. If something doesn’t go according to plan, he prefers not to explain it. He further added, “I feel shame if I try to explain why I didn’t win the fight. I didn’t win, and that’s it,” as his voice seemingly broke down.

Even though Dmitry Bivol accepted the defeat gracefully, he knew that he deserved a rematch. Like everyone else, he demanded a rematch from Artur Beterbiev, but his reason for another fight was completely different.

A rematch on cards?

As soon as the fight was over, Bivol’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, pleaded to His Excellency Turki Alalshikh for a rematch. The Matchroom Boxing chairman termed the result a “joke” and requested a rematch. His Excellency also agreed with Hearn’s point of view and stated that the judging of the match left a lot to be desired.

HE Turki Alalshikh termed the fight as “one of the great fights of the last 20 years,” but proposed a rematch, expressing his belief that Bivol had won two additional rounds and should have emerged victorious. He also pledged to try and convince both fighters to agree to another contest.

However, Dmitry Bivol needs no convincing. He immediately expressed his desire for a rematch, though not because of the judges’ decision. Instead, Bivol felt personally disappointed with his own performance. “I am a warrior and have no excuses. I just want another chance to prove myself,” stated Bivol.

What do you think about Dmitry Bivol’s post-match conference? Should Beterbiev accept the rematch? Let us know your thoughts down below.