In a dramatic turn of events, the team of Dmitry Bivol has announced that they will officially file a protest on Monday, contesting the scoring of boxing judge Pawel Kardyni in Bivol’s recent fight against Artur Beterbiev. Manager Vadim Kornilov revealed the plan in an exclusive statement to BoxNation, alleging a conspiracy within the boxing organizations and questioning the integrity of the sport.
Kornilov disclosed that he is in discussions with renowned boxing promoter Eddie Hearn regarding the protest. “We’ll protest it on Monday,” Kornilov confirmed. “I’m talking to Eddie, and we’re going to file a protest.”
While Kornilov acknowledged that protests in boxing rarely result in overturning decisions, he emphasized that action must be taken against questionable judging practices. “At the end of the day, we know it doesn’t work, but at least the judge [Pawel Kardyni] has to have some kind of responsibility for what he did,” Kornilov stressed.
Kornilov’s frustrations extend beyond Kardyni’s controversial 116-112 scorecard, with accusations directed at the broader boxing ecosystem. He described a troubling relationship between judges, promoters, and organizations, suggesting that close ties undermine the sport’s credibility.
“There are these organizations, all friendly with these judges, hugging with promoters—it’s like a big scheme,” Kornilov claimed. “One of the supervisors was tapping the Top Rank guys and congratulating them before the decision was announced. What is that about? What kind of buddy-buddy relationship do they have there? Where is the professionalism?”
Kardyni’s scorecard of 116-112 has been widely criticized by fans and analysts alike, with many suggesting the fight was far closer—or even in Bivol’s favor. The fallout has reignited discussions about the transparency and fairness of boxing judging, an issue that has plagued the sport for years.
Bivol’s camp is determined to push for accountability in the hope of discouraging further misconduct. Kornilov’s remarks reflect deep frustration with what he perceives as “destructive” actions damaging the sport’s reputation. “It’s becoming very destructive to the sport what they’re doing,” he lamented.
While the protest is unlikely to change the official result, Team Bivol hopes it will at least send a message to the sport’s governing bodies. This public challenge could prompt renewed calls for reform in boxing officiating.
As the protest prepares to be filed, all eyes will be on how the organizations respond. Will this protest spark change, or will it be yet another entry in boxing’s long list of controversies?
For now, the Bivol-Beterbiev saga continues, leaving fans and the boxing world eagerly awaiting the outcome of Monday’s protest filing.
