The boxing world is undeniably filled with controversy, with one popping up after another. Today is no different, as Artur Beterbiev has become the unified undisputed champion of the light heavyweight division after a questionable victory in a decision over Dmitry Bivol. Last night at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Beterbiev handed Bivol his first career loss. Given the hype of the fight, questions about their prize purse have been a hot topic among fans.
Given the high stakes of this matchup, where all four light heavyweight belts—the WBO, WBA, IBF, and WBC—were up for grabs, the purse was undoubtedly significant. Adding to that, the fight took place in Saudi Arabia, which likely boosted the earnings for both fighters even further. Meanwhile, it was reported that the prize pool for the fight was $20 million, with both Russian fighters taking home a substantial $10 million each.
However, when compared to other boxing matches, this fight had a smaller payday. Canelo Alvarez, who lost to Bivol, earned much more. Not only him, but Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, and even Francis Ngannou all have bigger purses for their fights.
Turki Alalshikh Wants Dmitry Bivol vs. Artur Beterbiev Rematch
There’s no doubt that buzz has erupted online following this fight. Many fans and analysts believe that Bivol was more dominant and deserved the victory over Beterbiev. When asked about the fight, Turki called it one of the best he’s seen in the past 20 years but expressed his belief that the result was unfair, stating that Bivol won. He also mentioned that he would work towards a rematch.
In his words, “I don’t think the result is fair. I think Bivol win 2 rounds more. I don’t know why result like this but I will try to do the rematch. If they accept, we will do it.”
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral Boxing stories via Google! Follow Us
Now that Turki has called for a rematch, it seems likely to happen. It will be interesting to see if Beterbiev can silence the critics who are accusing him of robbing Bivol. While the initial fight didn’t come with a huge purse, the rematch could potentially lead to a significant payday for both fighters.
