I just finished watching the Beterbiev vs. Bivol 2 fight. It was a strange fight. They both started off strong. Beterbiev was the aggressor early on, pursuing Bivol around the ring, but Bivol had the faster hands and better combinations. I believe that it was round 4 when Bivol quit throwing the right hand. He did not throw a right hand for the next few rounds. The announcers were pointing out that something was wrong. Did he break his hand or separate his shoulder? What started out as a good fight became very boring very fast. One man was chasing the other man around the ring for several rounds. It was more of a track meet than a fight. Suddenly after taking a few rounds off the right hand magically reappeared. Bivol proceeds to outwork Beterbiev for the next few rounds. Going into the last round Beterbiev's corner tells him that he really needs this round. He goes out and delivers and wins the last round. The people commentating the fight show their unofficial score cards. They all have it as a draw, as do I. The official score cards have one judge calling it a draw, and two judges have it for Bivol. The score cards are exactly the same as the first time that they fought only this time Bivol is on the winning side. Some people claim that Bivol was robbed in the first fight. Certainly some people will now claim that Beterbiev was robbed in the second fight.

I bring all this up because Beterbiev is Canadian and the judge that scored it 116-112 for Bivol is American. The on air commentators stated that they felt that 116-112 was out of line. I agree. Was this just boxing? Anyone who follows the fight game knows that crazy shit happens all the time thus the saying: "never leave it in the hands of the judges". Or could something more sinister be afoot? Could bad blood between the two countries be tainting the official score card? How can a man who took several rounds off by not throwing one power punch beat the standing champion? Granted I am merely a spectator. I have never reffed a fight or been a judge for a fight before. The crowd was pro Bivol so there was no adverse reaction to the call.

Something to think about.