Image source, Matchroom

Speaking to anyone in the build-up to tonight's undisputed light-heavyweight title fight, you struggled to get a firm steer on how they thought this bout might play out.

I asked you to vote on who would win in the minutes before the first bell rang - 691 of you sided with Artur Beterbiev and 696 picked Dmitry Bivol.

It looked pretty close throughout on the eye.

But the judges felt one man did enough to become the first undisputed light-heavyweight champion since 2002.

Beterbiev.

The fight certainly didn't underwhelm and some of the debate in the aftermath might mean we get the chance to see them do it all over again. Here's hoping!

Thanks for joining us.

Former world champion Josh Taylor on X: "I thought Bivol but, it is what it is. Great fight, boxing needs more of this."

Queensberry promoter Frank Warren speaking to DAZN: "I gave it to Bivol by a couple of rounds. That score of 8-4 is beyond ridiculous. Everyone around that ring thought Bivol had won it by at least two rounds.

"There should be a rematch because it was such a quality fight. Brilliant skills in there by Bivol, his jab was superb. Artur the last couple of rounds was told it was sink or swim. The score 8-4 was a joke. It's terrible when you get a fight like that and it ends in controversy."

Middleweight boxer Edgar Berlanga on X: "I would stand toe to toe with Artur and knock him out. No IQ, no head movement."

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn speaking to DAZN: "How could you not just talk about what just happened in the ring? How can you give Bivol four rounds in the whole fight? It's disgusting.

"Beterbiev's corner told him that he needed a knockout. I'm disgusted. Bivol boxed beautifully in there tonight.

"I don't want to disrespect Beterbiev but that judge should never work again. They're both tremendous fighters. No one on our row had Beterbiev win. We got in the ring and I'm looking round at Beterbiev and they're all deflated."

On whether they will look for a rematch: "His Excellency (Turki Alalshikh) has talked about that but it's fresh, it's just happened. All of the marking around his eye, you can see it's gauze from the tape. To not get the decision really hurts, I'm gutted for him."

Three-weight world champion Shakur Stevenson on X: "115-113, 116-112 😂"

Tony Bellew
Retired world champion on X

I’ve got Bivol winning that! The last round was so close again but I just feel Bivol landed the better shots all night long.. Great combinations, Great fight. Beterbiev was outstanding! Nearly 40 years old and he’s finishing fights as strong as he did when he was 20! Well done to both warriors.

Dmitry Bivol speaking to DAZN after losing to Artur Beterbiev: "I am a warrior. I have no explanation because it looks like excuses. I am a warrior. I don't know, I did my job but I felt like I could do better but it was just the opinion of some judges.

"Congratulations to Artur. He is powerful, very powerful. I have a bruise from my hand, he hit it and it was so hard."

On the possibility of a rematch: "Why not? Of course. It is my dream to be undisputed."

Anthony Short on X: "Has to be a rematch Bivol v Beterbiev."

What do you think? Would you like to see a rematch?

The money shot.

Image source, Queensberry Promotions

Quite a bit of reaction suggesting that maybe this fight should have gone the way of Bivol.

Here are the scorecards.

There was a lot of consensus.

All three judges scored rounds one, two and nine in Bivol's favour.

All three judges gave rounds three, five, 10, 11 and 12 to Beterbiev.

The only rounds they didn't agree on were four and seven.

Image source, Matchroom

Queensberry promoter Frank Warren on X: "What a fight two high level operators at their best, I had Bivol personally!"

Artur Beterbiev speaking to DAZN after beating Dmitry Bivol: "I feel not bad. I did not good today. I wanted to box with more quality. I'll be better one day. It was a little bit uncomfortable. Of course, it was a tough fight because Dmitry is a tough champion and he has tough skills, better than me.

"During the fight, we always try to change something. I didn't deliver more punches, I don't know. Today I am lucky too."

On corner saying he needs a knockout: "They always say that. I was more focused but not more aggressive. It's my experience and I am happy. I am a very simple boxer."

Four-weight world champion Claressa Shields on X: "Hmm this fight didn’t live up to the hype to me: 114-114, 113-114, 115-112... Beterbiev!"

Bivol is devastated. He thought he had it.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Darren Barker
Former world middleweight champion on DAZN

It was that aggression that got him that victory this evening. Look at the smile on the face of Beterbiev. Bivol boxed beautifully and he can be proud of himself.

Artur Beterbiev may have lost his 100% knockout record, but he has just become the first undisputed light-heavyweight champion of the four-belt era.

He is the first undisputed champion of the division since Roy Jones Jr in 2002.

Wow!

It has gone the way of Beterbiev.

Two judges scored it 115-113, 116-112 in his favour, with the third judge seeing it as a 114-114 draw.