Boxing

Dmitryry Bivol “cool and impersonal” WBC letter leaked

Published

1 year ago

April 8, 2025

Dmitryry Bivol sent the World Boxing Council letter explaining his decision to leave the lightweight heavyweight title.

Bivol’s activities took place a few hours before the undisputed champion on Tuesday’s handbag to face the mandatory contender David Benavidez.

The letter, sent by the lawyer Bivol, Patrick English to the former WBN writer, Dan Rafael, presents why the 34-year-old felt that he has no choice but to abandon the green and golden belt.

Worldboxingnews.com obtained a letter overdue on Monday as Bivol [24-1, 12 KOs] confirmed that he would focus on the trilogy with Artur Beterbal [21-1, 20 KOs] After their fight on February 22.

“April 7, 2025, dear President of Sulaiman: As you know, the office represents Dimitri Bivol. Mr. Bivol was placed in a situation where, unfortunately, he is forced to tell the title of the World Boxing Council.

“Everyone in boxing knows that there is a commitment for the third fight with Artur Beterbaview, generally considered the second best lightweight weight in boxing. We are working on consuming this fight.

“In addition, we are terrified by the inability to comply with the rotation system created many years ago. You are aware that IBF claims that it is the main organization, justifying, for the next Bivol.

“We want to be kind to people involved in the potential offer of a handbag planned for tomorrow. In this way we will notify you about the waiver of the belt before this time, so that people do not incur unnecessary travel expenses.

“Mr. Bivol appreciates such kindness of WBC as he has been awarded in the past.

“Regards, Patrick C. English.”

President of WBC Mauricio Sulaiman did not take a tone of the letter too kindly and expressed his feelings in this matter. In his answer, Sulaiman called the argument that IBF is another “amusing” for ending Bivol vs. Benavidez.

“I just received a cool and impersonal notification of lawyer Dmitry Biovol, Patrick English, with arguments that are so amusing that I would rather not discuss WBC informing that Dmitriry Bivol decided to give up his lightweight WBC championships.

“We wish Bivol’s success and hereby confirm David Benavidez as a heavyweight master WBC World Lightweight.”

Benavidez [30-0, 24 KOs] He raises the free WBC Lightweight Heavyweight and will have a grace period for his first defense against each in the top fifteen rankings. Despite the fact that Callum Smith was recognized as a potential pretender, nothing is yet in Liverpool stone.

The “Mexican monster” begins his third rule as a ruler after he was undressed twice in a super medium weight and never lost any titles inside the ring.

The hard-year-old 28-year-old defeated David Morrell on February 1 to prove his references in the 175 pounds ward. His pursuit of becoming the undisputed champion of lightweight heavyweight will continue when the third part of Bivol vs Beterbiev will be in the books.

Both Canelo Alvarez and Bivol decided not to follow the mandatory WBC orders to face Benavidez over the past two years.

Bivol, which now has IBF, WBO and WBA versions, will plan its planned third fight with Beterbiew.

WBN understands the date in October for Bivol vs Beterbaview as part of the Riyadh season ceremony in Saudi Arabia.

Turks Alalshikh will be expected to make a formal announcement of the trilogy match until the summer after Bivol equated with a series of two -fever according to the decision of the majority. He took revenge on Beterbaiew, doing exactly the same at the first meeting.

Boxing

Shakur Stevenson Challenges Devin Haney to Step Up Against KO Champion: You Have No Other Option

Published

22 hours ago

August 9, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Shakur Stevenson Challenges Devin Haney to Step Up Against KO Champion: 'You Have No Other Option'"

Devin Haney is currently searching for his next opponent and Shakur Stevenson believes there is only one option for him.

Haney hasn’t fought since becoming a three-division world champion when he defeated Brian Norman Jr by unanimous decision to win the WBO welterweight title back in November.

He has been rumoured to face a number of opponents since then, including Stevenson himself, but it looked like ‘The Dream’ would finally settle on a mandatory showdown with Keyshawn Davis after Top Rank won the purse bid for the clash last week.

Those plans went up in smoke when Davis pulled out of the contest, and Stevenson has explained why he thinks Haney now must target a battle against unified super-welterweight champion Jaron Ennis.

“You said you’d fight Conor Benn? You said you’d find Xander. Why the f**k you don’t say you want to fight Boots now? Matter of fact, you’ve got no other option.

“There’s nobody else on the table. There’s no me, there’s no Key[shawn Davis]there’s no Rolly. Who do you go to? Boots is free. Go get him.”

Ennis previously became unified champion at welterweight before moving up to 154lbs, making an instant impact in the new division when he stopped Xander Zayas in June to win the WBA and WBO super-welterweight titles.

It remains to be seen whether Haney would have any interest in moving up in weight to take on Ennis, with ‘Boots’ also having been linked to fights against IBF champion Josh Kelly, and fellow unbeaten star Vergil Ortiz.

Boxing

New World Champion Aims to Follow Canelo and Golovkin as Top Middleweight

Published

22 hours ago

August 9, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"New World Champion Aims to Follow Canelo and Golovkin as Top Middleweight"

A newly-crowned world champion believes he has what it takes to follow in the footsteps of Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin by becoming the best middleweight fighter on the planet.

Canelo and Golovkin each ruled the 160lb division for a number of years, culminating in two middleweight battles between the pair and one at super-middleweight.

While ‘GGG’ may have last competed in 2022, Canelo remains active, but now fights at super-middleweight, opening the door for a fighter to step up and become the top dog in the middleweight division.

One man who believes he can do just that is Aaron McKenna, who won the vacant IBF middleweight title with a unanimous decision win over Etinosa Oliha in Dublin on Saturday.

Speaking to Sky Sports following that win, McKenna explained how he has ambitions to pick up where the likes of Canelo and Golovkin left off.

“It doesn’t matter [who’s next]whoever wants it. I’m easy to find now, I have a belt. There’s no hiding any more. I want to collect every single belt in boxing. I’m the best middleweight and super-middleweight in the world. I don’t mind jumping up.

“The middleweight division’s there to be took over. It’s been dying for years since GGG (Golovkin) and Canelo left it. I said it again, a year ago, I think I’m going to be the man to take it over.”

The other world champions at 160lbs may have a thing or two to say about McKenna’s plan, as Denzel Bentley is the current WBO champion, Carlos Adamas holds the WBC belt, and Erislandy Lara is the WBA titleholder.

Boxing

Aaron McKenna vs Etinosa Oliha Live Results: Fight Highlights and Updates

Published

2 days ago

August 8, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Aaron McKenna vs Etinosa Oliha Live Results: Fight Highlights and Updates"

LIVE COVERAGE

Aaron McKenna faces the biggest night of his career as the Irish contender battles Etinosa Oliha for the vacant IBF middleweight title in Dublin.

The all-action card also features Callum Walsh against Tyler Denny, Joseph Ward’s return at light heavyweight, and appearances from Stephen McKenna, Connor Coyle and Sam Hickey.

WBN provides live results, live scorecards from the two main bouts, and updates from every bout as they happen.

Live Scorecards

Aaron McKenna vs. Etinosa Oliha

Callum Walsh vs. Tyler Denny

Live Results

Times are local IST

18:31

Connor Coyle earned a hard-fought ten-round decision against Mark Beuke but was never in danger if losing on his Zuffw debut, before Stephen McKenna blasted Owen O’Neill out in one round soon after.

17:50

Patrick O’Connor remained undefeated at 4-0 with a TKO victory over Juan Manuel Moriel to kick the action off.

TV Coverage and Remaining Bouts

United States: Paramount+
United Kingdom: Sky Sports

Aaron McKenna vs. Etinosa Oliha – Vacant IBF World Middleweight Title (12)
Callum Walsh vs. Tyler Denny (10)
Joseph Ward vs. Artjom Kasparian (10)
Sam Hickey vs. Brad Axe (8)
Louis Greene vs. Daniel Buciuc (6)

Preview

Aaron McKenna headlines in Dublin against Etinosa Oliha for the vacant IBF middleweight titlewhile fellow Irish star Callum Walsh steps up against Tyler Denny in the chief support.

Victory for both men would move them a step closer to a potential all-Irish world title showdown, a fight Dana White has already admitted is firmly on his radar.

About the Author

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.

Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.