It was a very close fight for sure, but a close fight can still have a clear winner. Like you said, Bivol landed the cleaner punches and blocked the majority of Beterbiev's punches. Effective aggression is rewarded on the scorecards, but Beterbiev's aggression wasn't exactly effective... He looked really scary doing it and he muscled Bivol around, but the fact is almost all those punches he was throwing as he rampaged forward were blocked. It's still worth something on the cards, but it should in no way take priority over the fact that Bivol was doing the cleaner, better work.
Dear Sir with all due respect I did not misread your post. I read it properly the first time and did so again at your request from a due diligence perspective. I will reiterate Callum Smith has no chance against Bivol, Benavidez and Beterbiev. We saw what happened already when he fought Beterbiev and how uncompetitive it was. It’s outlandish for Smith to beat David Benavidez and everyone who really understands boxing, styles etc knows this.
Depends what you like. The classic dillema: one fighter threw 100 punches but missed every one of them, his opponent didn't throw once and blocked or dodged all incoming ones. Who do you reward, the aggressor who's trying to make the fight of it or a defender? Still, not a robbery at all. Calling close fights that could have gone either way robberies is what's wrong with boxing. Lewis vs Holyfield I, now that's a robbery.
Well, this is how the alphabet soup rolls. I'm not the least surprised WBC would hand the belt to Benavidez. As others have noted here, folks want to see Benavidez get a shot at all the belts. I really hope the winner of the trilogy fights him next. What I have little patience for is the kind of BS you get from IBF, mandating a fight with a no-name like Michael Eifert (?!) I get it that the boxing orgs answer to the people who pay them, but.... read the room....
I think Benavidez may prove to be the tougher fight for Bivol than even Beterbiev. Would love to see both Bivol and Beterbiev fight David Benaividez.
Callum Smith may well get an opportunity to fight David Benavidez on a PBC card in the USA but it won’t end well for him in my opinion.
I wasn't talking about Smith vs Bivol or Beterbiev (since Smith's already fought Beterbiev and got demolished for his trouble), I was taking about Benavidez vs all three men.
There is no fake news. That's the promoter talking about ducking the fight and trying to getting Bivol stripped weeks before Bivol vacated the title. The Benevidez camp never wanted the fight. They wanted Benevidez to fight for the vacated title. It was all planned and politicized. Bivol is the undisputed champ. Benevidez team trying to act like he's A-Side. This is a clear duck from Benevidez's team.
That is noted Sir however I am picking up specifically the David Benavidez vs Callum Smith match up in particular which could be next now Benavidez has the WBC belt. The other 2 match ups are highly debatable which this one is not in my opinion.
Which fight makes Bivol the most money? Beterbiev or Benavidez? I'm not sure but I'd guess Benavidez is his meal ticket. Surely less people want to see a 3rd Beterbiev fight?