Rewatched the fight just now. Ended up at 7-5 bivol. Can't see anybody giving beterbiev 7 rounds. That being said, I still wouldn't call it a robbery. And that's because I think body language plays a big part in fights. And one thing I didn't like about bivols performance was that he would go on long stretches where he was just shelling up and allowing beterbiev to walk him down and pummel him on the gloves. Even though many of the punches didn't score, it's still not a good look. It gave off the impression that he was shook or even hurt at times. Beterbiev got rocked at one point but he came back fighting. And he never stopped coming forward no matter what.
Bivol in the last 3 rounds looked similar to how Haney looked in the last 3 rounds against lomachenko. Where he was getting walked down and not standing his ground much. And it kind of tainted his performance. I had bivol winning but if this was a 15 round fight I'm not sure he would have survived. You gotta end a fight strong. Still doesn't change the fact that the 8-4 scorecard was dog shyt. But bivol didn't do himself any favors with all the shelling up. But overall he still landed the cleaner head snapping punches.
To be honest I don't even really care to see a rematch immediately. It was a good fight but wouldn't call it great. The tension is what made it good moreso than their performances. A rematch would be the same exact shyt. Let David(or morrel) get the shot if he's really serious about it. And no more fights in Saudi. The atmosphere is fukkin horrible.
Similar thoughts, but I think Haney really took it to Loma in the 12th. Fight also reminded me of Crawford vs Madrimov, once it hit the championship rounds. Crawford really got aggressive and I think was hurting Madrimov, so in return, he started clinching.
You're 100% right, the body language of Bivol in the latter rounds looked like he was spent. I think he knew that if he wasn't careful, he could get knocked down by Beterbiev late in the fight, so he tried to be as safe as possible. I think if it wasn't for those rounds he would've won the fight decisively.
Another point, is that I've seen a lot of interviews where people claim that the fight looked different in Saudi Arabia; Artur looked like the winner from ringside but Bivol probably looked better on TV. I couldn't tell if Beterbiev's short shots were landing on Bivol at times, while ringside, people are probably hearing gunshots.
