It was not long ago that Dmitry Bivol came through a major surgery and now he is set to go back under the knife again.
Look, we were right about Bivol and his last fight.
He’s still technically one of the best boxers in the world but physically he is not what he used to be.
He defeated Eifert recently on points in the comeback fight in Russia and did what he had to do by UD.
A solid event that had great entertainment of it before and after.
They even had Bivol and Eifert on types of elevated electronic podiums before hand.
A great show and good to see boxing’s continued expansion in the East with big fights as well.
But he didn’t have the same pop on his punches anymore.
The same sting in the jab, to keep while a tough German like Eifert off, an opponent he would have dispatched easily years ago.
He underwent major back surgery before the comeback win recently and now he is going under the knife shortly for elbow surgery.
Eifert while a tough game fighter set a record all time in the fight with Dmitry Bivol for low number of punches thrown.
So, the fact Bivol could not keep him off with enough strength and so on, was a bit shocking.
His body is giving up on him now as he is going back under the knife yet again.
His body cannot hack in our view high level professional boxing.
Not anymore.
A gifted boxer and champion in his day, and still the man to beat at light-heavyweight, but we do not think you will see him at his best again.
Too many mjor injuries and major surgeries now. They take a toll.
What is bad is he is looking at a Callum Smith defense after the surgery on his elbow but everyone wants either Artur Beterbiev 3 or the David Benavidez fight.
Beterbiev is well up for the fight on his part but you have to wonder where Bivol is coming from now looking at the Smith fight.
Beterbiev is 1-1 with Bivol and if they do not fight this year, it will not happen.
Not because of Beterbiev, organizers, spectators or the sport, because of Dmitry Bivol.
And possibly whatever ill-advised management that is advising him.
This is strange as only recently Dmitry Bivol was looking at giving up a title in order to go for the Artur Beterbiev 3 fight.
This is what he should still do instead.
Spectators around the world, Russia, Beterbiev and the entire sport will think much more of him for it rather than the Callum Smith fight.
Fighters continue to go after the big fights so even if Bivol is done at the highest level, he might as well still have one last big one.
Either vacate the belt and fight Beterbiev or David Benavidez or retire due to the physical tolls that are clearly now catching up with him.
Bivol’s body is no longer helping him so he should just go for one last big one.
The Beterbiev third fight is the big one that he can still at least pursue.
Who knows what fight Bivol will be in next.
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