“Rigged f**king sport” – Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov stepping into ring alongside Artur Beterbiev rages fans

Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov's presence at the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol fight has sparked speculation about suspicious activities.

“Rigged f**king sport” – Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov stepping into ring alongside Artur Beterbiev rages fans

Ramzan Kadyrov congratulates Artur Beterbiev after his victory (Image via Sky Sports/X)

The Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, hosted a historic light heavyweight boxing match. Dmitry Bivol, the WBA and IBO belt holder, faced off against Artur Beterbiev, who held the WBC, IBF, and WBO titles. After the fight, an incident drew attention when Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov entered the ring to congratulate Beterbiev. As such, it even sparked varied reactions from boxing fans.

Before the fight, both boxers entered the ring with undefeated records. They had not been defeated in their professional careers. Beterbiev, known for his history of knocking out his opponents, had more titles and less to gain from Bivol. Thus, it made the match even more thrilling. However, the outcome of the match remains controversial.

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Artur Beterbiev is known for his brute force. Right from the start, Beterbiev pressured Dmitry Bivol with some powerful jabs. Beterbiev missed more shots than he landed, whereas Bivol had better efficiency, but not by much. The 12-round main event at the Kingdom Arena ended in a majority win for Beterbiev, but the decision was controversial for many.

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After the decision was announced, fight fans began speculating about the fight. The speculation intensified when Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov entered the ring to congratulate Beterbiev. As such, they believed that Kadyrov might have influenced the scorecard. However, amid it all, Beterbiev’s gained the undisputed light heavyweight status following his win against Bivol.

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Fight fans react to Ramzan Kadyrov’s appearance at Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol fight

The Chechen warlord has a controversial image among the general public, which has led to backlash from several fighters associated with him. One prominent example is the undefeated UFC star Khamzat Chimaev, who has a close relationship with Ramzan Kadyrov. Interestingly, when fight fans saw Kadyrov embracing Beterbiev following his victory, the reaction was similar to that of Chimaev’s.

Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol in action
Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol in action (Image via x)

The majority of fight fans favored the Chechen warlord, resulting in criticism towards Beterbiev. Many believed the fight was rigged, claiming Bivol as the true winner. Check out some of the reactions below.

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Interestingly, many fight fans speculated that Ramzan Kadyrov would influence Khamzat Chimaev’s upcoming fight. Meanwhile, with the win against Bivol, 39-year-old Beterbiev extended his boxing record to 21-0. Nevertheless, the controversial majority decision will plague the result of the bout for the time being.