Dmitry Bivol says he’s not the best light heavyweight, yet
Dmitry Bivol is the WBA light heavyweight champion of the world. He talked about his upcoming bout with Isaac Chilemba during a recent media call.
Dmitry Bivol (13-0, 11 KOs) is the youngest titleholder in the light heavyweight division at 27 years old. He defends his WBA title against veteran Isaac Chilemba on Saturday, Aug. 4. Bivol discussed his place in the light heavyweight division in a media conference call on Wednesday, July 18.
The light heavyweight division is teeming with talented, yet aging, boxers. The other three titleholders in the division are Sergey Kovalev, Adonis Stevenson and Artur Beterbiev. All are top-notch boxers, but they’re also old in boxing years. Kovalev is 35, Stevenson is 40, and Beterbiev is 33. Bivol is six years younger than the next youngest reigning champion, Beterbiev.
Kovalev and Stevenson are the most established light heavyweight champions, but Bivol has the brightest prospects because of his youth and knockout power. He has an impressive 85 percent knockout rating.
Bivol knocked out Sullivan Barrera in the 12th round of their March matchup. Before his fight with Bivol, Barrera had only lost once to future Hall-of-Famer Andre Ward by unanimous decision. That makes Bivol’s knockout of Barrera all the more extraordinary.
During Wednesday’s media call, Bivol was asked about his place in the light heavyweight division. His response was surprisingly honest.
“I don’t think that now I’m the best light heavyweight, but I’m now one of the best — one of four guys,” said Bivol. “I hope in the not far future we’ll know who is the best.”
In a time when so many fighters are filled with bravado and arrogance, Bivol’s thoughtful and candid response is refreshing. It represents his maturity and that he’s grounded. He could have a big head because of his flawless record, but he’s wise enough to realize that he’s never been tested against the best boxers in the division.
Bivol’s comments don’t represent weakness. They show his intelligence. He can’t proclaim to be the best light heavyweight until he tests his skills against the best. His next opponent, Chilemba, is a crafty veteran, but he’s a lifelong contender. He has skill but isn’t dynamic enough to threaten the top boxers in the division.
Chilemba isn’t a serious threat to Bivol. Bivol will be an overwhelming favorite over Chilemba. It’s a safe fight for Bivol, designed to keep him active and winning. He can continue to showcase his elite skills to boxing audiences and build his fan base in the U.S.
Bivol and the rest of the world won’t know if he’s the best light heavyweight in the world until he starts fighting several of the other titleholders. Bivol thinks he’s nearing a potential showdown with Kovalev.
“Most likely this fight is going to happen since Sergey and I are HBO boxers,” proclaimed Bivol. “As long as [sic] what the people want, most likely the fight will happen, and me and Sergey will make sure to give this fight to the people.”
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A bout between Bivol and Kovalev would be the most significant light heavyweight bout since the Kovalev/Ward rematch in 2017. Bivol needs to take care of business against Chilemba first, but a fight with Kovalev is what all boxing fans want.