Puzzled fans say ‘this is so random’ as snooker royalty spotted ringside for Beterbiev vs Bivol

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN couldn’t get enough as Artur Beterbiev edged out Dmitry Bivol for undisputed light-heavyweight glory.

Boxing fan O’Sullivan was seated ringside as Bivol suffered a tight and contentious loss to his Russian counterpart Beterbiev by a majority decision.

Fans were left stunned at the result as many thought Bivol had done enough to retain his WBC, IBF and WBO belts.

Yet the judges scored the bout 114-114, 115-113 and 116-12 in Beterbiev’s favour.

Bivol’s promoter Eddie Hearn labelled the decision “absolutely disgusting” and viewers called it a “robbery”.

But O’Sullivan, 48, was one person who enjoyed the fight in the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The seven-time world snooker champ posted a close-up from his ringside seat with the caption: “What a fight!!!!”

And fans were left stunned by his involvement, with one writing: “Ronnie O’Sullivan being there is so random😂.”

While another said: “What is O’Sullivan doing ringside?”

A third wrote: “I did not expect to see Ronnie O’Sullivan there… so random.”

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Another replied: “The Rocket is in the house!”

While another added: “From Ronnie O’Sullivan to Medvedev at the Beterbiev vs Bivol fight, who would have thought.”

But fans shouldn’t be that surprised as O’Sullivan agreed to become an ambassador for Saudi Arabian snooker in April.

He penned terms on a three-year deal with the Gulf State and will commit to playing in all World Snooker Tour (WST) events in Saudi Arabia.

The Rocket lost 6-4 to Si Jiahui at the quarter-final stage of the inaugural Saudi Arabia Masters in Riyadh last month and has backed the venue as “one of the world’s best”.

Meanwhile, O’Sullivan wasn’t the only random sporting star in attendance.

Football star Neymar, who plays for Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, was pictured in the ring after Chris Eubank Jr’s seventh-round KO win over Kamil Szeremeta.

The former Paris-Saint Germain and Barcelona star was caught in-between Eubank’s face off with Conor Benn to the confusion of fans.

Tennis star Danil Medvedev, who was beaten by Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals of the US Open last month, was also spotted in the crowd.

All surely witnessed Frazer Clarke’s brutal first-round knockout at the hands of Fabio Wardley in their rematch.

Clarke will undergo an operation to repair his jaw and cheekbone.

Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk