Latest news with #Beterbiev
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WBC exposes its own hypocrisy in latest dispute with Dmitry Bivol
Dmitry Bivol is no longer boxing's undisputed light heavyweight champion. (Mark Robinson/) (Mark Robinson via Getty Images) Boxing is a simple sport made complicated by various factions who root for their own interests at the cost of furthering the fight game — and Monday's developments are yet more proof that some of those who run it cannot get out of their own way. Advertisement On Monday, Dmitry Bivol — Uncrowned's No. 4 pound-for-pound fighter in the world — informed the World Boxing Council (WBC), via his attorney Patrick English, that Bivol has opted to "relinquish his WBC light heavyweight championship," according to WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman on X. Sulaiman then blasted both for the 'cold and impersonal notification.' Bivol won the WBC title, together with the WBO, WBA and IBF belts, for his Feb. 22 majority decision win over his longtime 175-pound rival Artur Beterbiev. The result avenged Bivol's loss to Beterbiev in their first fight just four months prior. They are now tied at one win apiece in a gold standard brace of bouts. Considering the skill sets, and the technical brilliance from Bivol and Beterbiev's series so far, they have long been linked with a trilogy to determine who tops their rivalry. Combat sports powerbroker Turki Alalshikh backed, financed and hosted the two fights so far, and has been putting in motion the process to secure one further fight. 'We want to see the third,' he excitedly said the day after Bivol vs. Beterbiev 2. Advertisement A source within Bivol's camp with knowledge of the situation told Uncrowned on Tuesday that Alalshikh's actions have exposed sanctioning bodies like the WBC when they try to get in the way of a fight between the world's best fighters. On this occasion, it laid bare 'the credibility of the ranking system and sanctioning organization, the WBC, as being jerky,' the source said. Boxing is a sport that should produce winners. Take your fists, ram them into your opponent's jaw and ribs until they cannot continue, or judges deem you to have edged your opponent, and you have yourself a victory. This dispute, though, has only produced losers. Advertisement Bivol loses out because his trilogy no longer carries undisputed status even though it's quite clear that both participants are the top two combatants at 175 pounds. That Sulaiman rushed to anoint David Benavidez as an elevated champion makes a loser out of "The Mexican Monster" because it goes against Benavidez's personal brand as an anytime, any place, anywhere BMF-type of fighter, like UFC's cult heroes Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal. Benavidez himself said in a public post on social media that it wasn't 'the ideal way' to win a world title, and the way in which he's conducted himself inside and outside of the ring to date shows he'd like nothing more than to earn a title like that by defeating Saul "Canelo" Alvarez or Bivol in the ring. Not by email. David Benavidez is officially the WBC light heavyweight champion, though the belt didn't arrive in the ring. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) (Las Vegas Review-Journal via Getty Images) The biggest loser here, though, is the WBC and its president Sulaiman. Advertisement This week's ordeal exposes the WBC's own hypocrisy as it was in no rush to strip Alvarez when Benavidez was the pound-for-pound mainstay's mandatory challenger at super middleweight for more than two years. Instead, WBC was very flexible in allowing "Canelo" to fight whomever he wanted, even if Benavidez had long been considered the second-best fighter when he competed at 168 pounds. The WBC never enforced Benavidez as a mandatory challenger back then, ultimately screwing him out of a fight many believe he'd at least have been competitive in, if not won. There was never a hint from the WBC that Alvarez could lose his title outside of the ring. Bivol infamously beat "Canelo" in 2022 in a light heavyweight bout with feints and triple jabs, and then months later the WBC imposed a ruling in which Russian and Belarusian boxers were removed from its ranking pool in light of Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Now, just months after Bivol won the WBC title, Bivol is no longer a WBC champion, having been afforded nowhere near the level of flexibility the WBC previously allowed "Canelo," when enforcing a mandatory process that now looks slapdash and unserious. Advertisement In doing so, the WBC has ignored due process, the source within Team Bivol told Uncrowned. Bivol vs. Beterbiev 3 is indeed next, Uncrowned confirmed, and the only sanctioning body which had a claim to be 'next in line would have been the IBF,' as a rotation system among sanctioning bodies exists when undisputed champions reign within one division and collect each of the sanctioning bodies' titles. 'They [WBC] made a promise,' the source said. 'The promise was that [Benavidez] get[s] a fight with the winner of Bivol vs. Beterbiev.' Considering the upcoming trilogy and rotation policy, it's a promise WBC was never going to be able to keep.
The Independent
08-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Dmitry Bivol's lawyer offered ‘ridiculous' reasons for vacating title in ‘cold' message, WBC says
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has hit out at Dmitry Bivol 's lawyer, accusing him of sending a 'cold' message with 'ridiculous' reasons for the boxer vacating the WBC light-heavyweight title. It was confirmed by Sulaiman on Monday (7 April) that Bivol had relinquished the belt, which he won when he outpointed Artur Beterbiev to become undisputed champion in February. Sulaiman also confirmed that interim-title holder David Benavidez has been elevated to official WBC champion, as Bivol eyes a trilogy bout with Beterbiev. Sulaiman tweeted on Monday: 'I have just received a cold and impersonal notification from Dmitry Bivol ['s] lawyer, Patrick English, with arguments that are so ridiculous that I rather not discuss [them,] informing the WBC that Dmitry Bivol has decided to relinquish his WBC light heavyweight championship. 'We wish Bivol success and hereby confirm David Benavidez as WBC world light heavyweight champion.' Per The Ring, English wrote to Sulaiman: 'Everyone in boxing knows that there is a commitment for a third bout with Artur Beterbiev […] We are working to consummate that bout. 'In addition, we are dismayed at the inability of the ratings organizations to adhere to the rotation system set up many years ago. You are aware that the iBF [sic] has claimed to be the lead organization, with justification, for the next Bivol bout.' Bivol's recent victory over Beterbiev followed a narrow points loss to his fellow part-Russian in October, when Beterbiev became undisputed champion. That October result also marked Bivol's first professional loss, though he returned the favour in February, becoming the first fighter to beat Beterbiev. And it seems Bivol, 34, and Beterbiev, 40, could square off yet again, although Bivol was linked with mandatory challenger Benavidez recently. The unbeaten Benavidez, 28, made his name at super-middleweight but moved up to light-heavyweight last year, after failing to secure a bout with Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez. The American won the interim WBC light-heavyweight strap by outpointing Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June, before retaining it against David Morrell in February, a bout in which Benavidez was dropped and his opponent was docked a point.
BBC News
08-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Bivol vacates WBC title to pursue Beterbiev trilogy
Dmitry Bivol has relinquished his WBC light-heavyweight world title after just six weeks as undisputed champion in order to pursue a third fight against Artur Russian defeated Beterbiev on 23 February to gain revenge over his fiercest rival and claim the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF world president Mauricio Sulaiman confirmed Bivol had vacated the title because the 34-year-old is seeking another fight against his fellow Russian Beterbiev. The first two fights between Bivol and 40-year-old Beterbiev had been for the undisputed in the wake of Bivol's victory, the WBC had ordered him to fight its top contender David Benavidez next and a purse bid was scheduled for Tuesday. American fighter Benavidez, who is unbeaten in 30 bouts, has been upgraded to world champion Callum Smith will be among those vying to fight Benavidez after he beat top contender Joshua Buatsi in February.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dmitry Bivol vacates WBC title, David Benavidez fight to pursue Artur Beterbiev trilogy
Dmitry Bivol poses with the WBC title that no longer belongs to him. () (Mark Robinson via Getty Images) Dmitry Bivol's undisputed title run lasted a mere 44 days. Bivol, Uncrowned's No. 4 pound-for-pound boxer in the world, informed the WBC on Monday afternoon that he will be vacating its version of the light heavyweight title that he won in his brilliant rematch with Artur Beterbiev in February. Advertisement A March 5 ruling from the sanctioning body officially ordered Bivol to defend his championship against WBC interim champion David Benavidez next. With no deal reached, the WBC ordered an April 8 purse bid for Bivol vs. Benavidez, which Bivol has now withdrawn from less than 24 hours before it was scheduled to take place. According to veteran boxing journalist Dan Rafael, Bivol informed the WBC that he vacated the championship because he is committed to a trilogy fight against Beterbiev, which could take place in October for the opening of Riyadh Season 2025-26. Beterbiev won a contentious majority decision over Bivol in their first meeting this past October to claim the undisputed crown. The pair rematched in the main event of "The Last Crescendo" show — labeled by some as the greatest boxing card of all time — organized by Turki Alalshikh's Riyadh Season in February. Advertisement On that occasion, Bivol saw his hand raised by majority decision to capture all four 175-pound belts. With the pair sharing one win apiece, a third meeting with Beterbiev is viewed as a natural next step for Bivol. Bivol remains the WBA, IBF and WBO champion. Benavidez is expected to be elevated to full WBC light heavyweight world champion and make the first defense of his crown in the summer. Although a Bivol vs. Benavidez fight won't take place next, Benavidez's promoter Sampson Lewkowicz is happy to re-explore the matchup should Bivol emerge victorious in his trilogy with Beterbiev. "We will give the [Bivol vs. Beterbiev 3] winner the opportunity to get the WBC title back at any time," Lewkowicz told Rafael. "We are one phone call away to make this fight happen."
Al Arabiya
21-03-2025
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Saudi boxer Mo Alakel on training with Roberto Duran and world title dreams
Mo Alakel has fought three times in his native Saudi Arabia since turning professional last year; on each occasion his hand has been held aloft as the victor, with Alakel soaking up the acclaim of the partisan crowds in Riyadh. The 20-year-old boxer's most recent outing in the Kingdom saw him beat Engel Gomez on points in a super-featherweight bout that appeared on the undercard of Beterbiev vs. Bivol 2 on February 22. Alakel had previously begun his pro career with a win against Jesus Gonzalez last October, following it up with a points victory over Joshua Ocampo on the Fury vs Usyk 2 undercard in December. It means Alakel is now 3-0 and insists he is feeling more at home fighting alongside some of the biggest names in boxing. 'It was kind of surreal the first time, especially seeing the TV cameras and screens because I've been a very big boxing fan since I was a little kid,' Alakel recalled in an exclusive interview with Al Arabiya English. 'I just tried to soak it all in – it was a crazy experience. It was – and still is – amazing fighting in Saudi Arabia because all my family are there supporting me. It's just a dream come true for me.' He went on to say the second fight felt a lot easier to him and 'played out perfectly.' 'The second fight felt a lot easier and just played out perfectly and then last time I was pretty upset on the night as I was hoping for a stoppage, but looking back at it, I actually performed pretty well,' he said. 'Honestly, I don't really feel the pressure of being a Saudi fighter because I just really trust the process. I train really hard and there are no shortcuts, so I always trust my ability to perform on the night and I enjoy being out there.' Being on the same card as the likes of Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury, Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev so early in his career has provided Alakel a remarkable opportunity to pick the brains of fighters who many aspiring boxers wouldn't usually be able to get near. The young Saudi has even had the chance to work with legendary Panamanian four-weight world champion Roberto Duran. 'I trained with Roberto for three weeks in my last camp and learned a lot from him – he's a legend,' Alakel said. 'He wants everything to be perfect so sometimes when he was teaching me something on the bag, he'd go crazy even if I made just a little mistake. But this is why he was a champion.' He continued, 'People see these guys [Fury, Usyk, Bivol and Beterbiev] as celebrities or stars, but when you actually sit down and talk to them, they're very human. They're very dedicated to their craft, they are hard-working people.' They've even given him some tips, according to Alakel. 'The normal stuff like keep working hard, focus on what you want to achieve and don't get distracted. It's great having guys like that around,' he added. Alakel's career may have burst into life over the past 18 months, but he has spent the past decade honing his craft. At the age of 10, he moved to Scotland, where his father was studying for his PhD at Edinburgh University. It was here that Alakel first began boxing and 'fell in love with it straight away.' 'At first I just did it for the enjoyment,' Alakel reflected. 'I loved sparring every day, training every day; the vibe of the gym and the guys I trained with. Then one of the boxing coaches there saw potential in me and that's when I started thinking I could actually maybe do something with boxing.' It wasn't only his coach who felt the Saudi teenager had something. Alakel's father posted some videos of him boxing online and they caught the attention of Turki Alalshikh, the Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority and now arguably the most influential figure in world boxing. 'I feel like he has transformed boxing for the better,' Alakel said of Alalshikh. 'More people are talking about the sport, more people are watching the fights.' 'His involvement has made boxing better and obviously that has also been great for Saudi Arabia with the country hosting the fights.' Alalshikh may have brought the globe's biggest boxing stars to the Kingdom in recent years, but he is also determined to develop Saudi talent. Which is why, in 2023, he connected Alakel with Joe Gallagher, the Manchester-based trainer who helped build the careers of world champions including Callum Smith, Anthony Crolla, Natasha Jonas, Paul Butler and Scott Quigg. 'It's a very inspiring, motivating place to be,' Alakel said of Gallagher's Gym in Manchester. 'I've been training with Joe and the champions he's been coaching, like [two-time bantamweight world champion] Paul Butler. We push each other and I'm being shown every day what it means to be a champion.' 'Joe has obviously achieved a lot with all his years of experience. He's a great coach who is firstly very organized - which is great for me as this is how I like working,' added. 'Manchester is a real boxing city. I know that Amir Khan and Tyson Fury have had big fights here and I love that there are boxing gyms everywhere and a lot of small amateur shows. For where I am now at the start of my career, it is a great place to be.' The boxing world was left stunned a couple of months ago when 56-year-old Gallagher, a hugely respected figure in the sport, announced that he had stage four bowel and liver cancer. Alakel admits it hit his fighters hard. 'It's really sad news and we were all surprised and shocked of course,' the young Saudi fighter said. 'We're all with Joe and he's just been carrying on and trying to get through it which is very inspiring.' Alakel feels he owes it to Gallager to continue to forge ahead with his pro career. His ultimate aim is to give Gallagher's Gym another world champion. 'This year I want to stay as busy as possible and keep representing Saudi Arabia. I know I have just got to keep training hard, slowly building up my record and hopefully then I can reach the top,' he said. 'I wouldn't be boxing if I didn't want to be a champion.'
