Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol could barely be separated by the punch stats.

Beterbiev edged past Bivol via majority decision with one judge scoring it a draw at 114-114 while the other two officials had it in his favour by margins of 115-113 and 116-112.

Bivol and Beterbiev put on a war of attritionMark Robinson/Matchroom

In doing so, Beterbiev became the first undisputed light heavyweight champion of the four-belt era.

Members of the boxing fraternity were split over the result of the all-Russian showdown and the CompuBox punch stats show just how little there was in it.

Both men were separated by four or fewer punches in eight out of the 12 rounds while Bivol outlanded Beterbiev by just five punches over the distance (142 to his adversary’s 137).

Bivol connected with more jabs at 58 to 47 but Beterbiev found a home for more power punches at 90 to 84.

In terms of how the rounds were split, Beterbiev landed more blows in six rounds while Bivol won the numbers game in five.

They couldn’t be separated in the sixth round with both men scoring nine punches a piece.

Considering how close the fight was, most felt the 116-112 scorecard from Pawel Kardyni was too wide.

Bivol’s promoter Eddie Hearn was disgusted by the decision and let his thoughts be known in the immediate aftermath.

“In one of the biggest fights of our generation, the most important fight of Dmitry Bivol’s life, you give him four rounds?” he told the DAZN broadcast.

“It’s disgusting. You heard Beterbiev’s corner in the 10th round: They told him he had to knock him out.

CompuboxThe punch stats were extremely close[/caption]

Beterbiev was crowned the first undisputed light heavyweight champion of the four-belt eraGetty

“Top Rank knew he’d lost. I’m absolutely baffled and disgusted. I don’t want to disrespect Artur Beterbiev…

“That judge should never work again. Four rounds [to Bivol] in a fight of this magnitude is disgusting.”

Rival promoter Frank Warren concurred, adding: “I gave it to Bivol by a couple of rounds.

“I thought it was a close fight but there is no way that score of 8-4.

“It’s ridiculous. Everyone around that ring thought Bivol won. They should order a rematch.

“There should be a rematch. The scoring of 8-4 is a bit of a joke.”