Dmitry Bivol became the undisputed light-heavyweight champion after his recent win over Artur Beterbiev, but it was a win six years earlier that set him up for stardom.
Dmitry Bivol has joined a prestigious group of fighters after becoming undisputed following his win over Artur Beterbiev in the pair’s much-anticipated rematch.
Bivol‘s record now stands at 24-1, with his sole loss coming from his first encounter with Beterbiev.
The Russian has had a string of career highlights, including wins over Canelo Alvarez and current cruiserweight world champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez, but one fight six years ago set him up for everything.
Dmitry Bivol beat the man who knocked out and retired Bernard Hopkins
In 2019, one year after his career-best win over Jean Pascal, who at the time held a record of 33-5-1 to Bivol’s 14-0, the Russian fighter faced the man who ended the career of the legendary Bernard Hopkins, in a fight that many believe to be the one that put Bivol on the map.
Bivol, who was allegedly dropped by David Benavidez in sparring, faced Joe Smith Jr., a then 24-2 light-heavyweight division veteran.
Bivol put on a masterclass and defeated Smith Jr. in a near-shut-out decision. Two judges had Smith winning one round, and the third had him winning two rounds out of twelve.
Bivol followed this victory, which gave him notoriety in the division, with wins over Castillo Rivera, who Callum Smith scarily stopped in his division debut, Craig Richards, Canelo, Zurdo Ramirez, and Lyndon Arthur ahead of his clash with Beterbiev.
Smith Jr. has since fought and lost to both Ramirez, who may be Jai Opetaia’s next opponent, and Beterbiev.
Dmitry Bivol scored his first stoppage in seven years on Saudi 5v5 card
In 2024, on what was supposed to be the date of Bivol’s clash with Beterbiev, Bivol fought a replacement opponent in the middle of the Matchroom vs Queensberry 5v5 card, which pitted five Matchroom fighters with five Queensberry fighters.
Matchroom did not win a single fight of the five.
Bivol’s fight, however, was not a part of the 5v5, but another fight on the card, against Malik Zinad.
Zinad was an undefeated 22-0 fighter at the time but was comprehensively outclassed by Bivol, who, after dropping him in the first round, took him up to the halfway point of the fight, before dispatching him with a flurry of unanswered shots.
This marked Bivol’s first stoppage since 2018, when he beat Sullivan Barrera by a twelfth-round TKO.