Thompson Slams Bivol’s “Fake Victory” Over Beterbiev, Cites Ageism And Sympathy Scoring

Lonnie B Thompson says he views Dmitry Bivol’s win as a “Fake victory” over undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev on Saturday night in Riyadh. Thompson feels the judges gave Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) for “Making it to the finish line” and feels that the judges gave it to him “out of sympathy.”

Ageism Against Beterbiev?

He also sees it as Beterbiev (21-1 20 KOs) losing due to ageism because he’s 40 years od, and Bivol is the younger fighters. He’s got more years left in the sport than Beterbiev.

Many fans felt that Beterbiev should have been given a decision, which is how I feel. The judge’s scores were as follows:

115-113116-112114-114

I scored it 115-113 in favor of Beterbeiv. He was the one pushing the fight, chasing after Bivol, who was running and holding.

“I think it’s extremely bull s***. It’s like they’re awarding him the decision for making it to the finish line because he didn’t win that fight,” said Lonnie B to Fighthype, reacting to Dmitry Bivol’s win over Artur Beterbiev on Saturday night on DAZN PPV.

“I gave him the first two rounds, but y’all are going to sit here and act like three, four, five, six, seven, eight, and none, he [Bivol] did nothing in the middle of the fight. He lost all those rounds clearly. You can say he did alright in the tenth. He [Bivol] did good in the eleventh, and almost got stopped in the twelfth.

“In my personal opinion, I think they have it out for Artur because he’s 40 years old, and Bivol is the younger guy and has the American style that everybody likes. So, I feel like they say, ‘If you get to the finish line, we’ll give him the victory. But he didn’t win the fight. I feel they gave him the win out of sympathy.”

It could be seen as the judges wanting to balance things out, given Beterbiev’s previous win over Bivol last October. Promoter Eddie Hearn, and a lot of fans felt that Bivol should have won that fight. Hearn had been complaining night and day about that loss. At least now, he can shut his yap finally.

Everyone knew that Turki Alalshikh wanted a trilogy match, and some fans believe it could have played a factor as well in the scoring. In a way, the right guy won, even if he didn’t in the true sense.

“People want to see him [Beterbiev] and Benavidez, which would be a firecracker. I don’t think he should fight Bivol again because that style is too hard because he fights to survive,” said Lonnie B. “It’s hard to stop somebody like that. He doesn’t fight to dominate. You see, when he punches, he tucks his chin all the way back here. So it’s hard to get a clean shot. Then he grabs and holds, and then jumps back because he’s got good legs. He jumps back real far.”

A fight between Beterbiev and David Benavidez would be a heck of a lot more exciting to watch than if Bivol were to fight him. Bivol would fight the same way he did tonight against Benavidez, and it would be boring. If Beterbiev and Benavidez fights, it’s going to be a brawl. That’s what fans in the U.S. like to watch. Lonnie B says fans prefer to watch Bivol’s style over Beterbiev’s, and that’s not true. Most fans like action, not running.

“So, I think that style is a hard one for Artur to look as good as he did against other opponents. So, I don’t think he should fight Bivol again. I think he should fight Benavidez and those guys. If they want to give Bivol the victory, cool, but he didn’t win that fight,” said Lonnie B.