Artur Beterbiev's corner gave six-word message that proved they thought he lost to Dmitry Bivol

Artur Beterbiev became king of the light-heavyweight divison after earning a decision victory over Dmitry Bivol but it appears even his own team did not expect their fighter to win

Artur Beterbiev's corner believed that their fighter needed to knock Dmitry Bivol out in the final round to claim victory.

The Russian-Canadian boxer was unable to dispatch his opponent in the 12th but he nevertheless earned the crown of king of the light-heavyweight division on Saturday night after earning a majority decision. The 39-year-old came out the victory on the judges' scorecards: 114-114, 115-113 and 116-112, to add the WBA belt to his IBF, WBC and WBO titles.

After a difficult start to the fight, Beterbiev finished strong but there were fears he had too much to do to overcome an early deficit. Indeed, some eyebrows were raised when he emerged as the winner.

Following the 11th round, and in search of securing victory, Beterbiev's team even appeared to tell him: "You have to knock him out."

Eddie Hearn, who promotes Bivol, was left furious with the result. The Matchroom boss also suggested that Beterbiev knew he required a knockout.

"In one of the biggest fights of our generation and in the most important fight in Dmitry Bivol's life you give him four rounds?" said Hearn. "It's absolutely disgusting. You heard in the tenth round 'you have to knock him out to win this fight'.

"They knew Artur Beterbiev lost this fight. I'm absolutely baffled and disgusted by a scorecard of 116-112.

"I don't want to disrespect Artur Beterbiev but Dmitry Bivol should be the undisputed champion tonight and that judge should never work again. Four rounds in a fight of that magnitude is disgusting."

“They’re both incredible fighters, but I find it sickening that, after a lifetime of hard work, Dmitry Bivol is not undisputed champion tonight," Hearn continued.

“I struggled to find anybody on our row, the row behind, the TV rows, who didn’t score the fight to Dmitry Bivol. To find a judge who gave it 116-112 and give Dmitry Bivol four rounds in that fight – this judge should never work in this sport again. I’m sorry.

“Everything you’re going to get out of Dmitry will be ‘I can do better, it’s boxing, I take the judge’s scorecard’ but I don’t buy it because you don’t deserve that after that performance. It was an absolute boxing masterclass.”

Beterbiev admitted following the bout that he was 'lucky' to get the decision following his performance. "I feel not bad,” he told DAZN.

“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."