Today, a video was published on social media showing a slim Dmitry Bivol exercising on a ponderous bag. Three-belt airy heavyweight champion Bivol (24-1, 12 KO) is returning from back surgery last August for a herniated disc in his lower back.
Slimmer appearance
Fans have noticed that Bivol’s figure has atrophied, making him no longer resemble the muscular airy heavyweight champion who defeated Artur Beterbiev on February 22, 2025. Some of them doubt whether Dmitry will be able to come back from spine surgery and remain champion when he faces Arthur in the long-awaited trilogy.
Bivol wouldn’t be the first player to have his career ruined due to back problems. A classic example is middleweight Dmitry Pirog. After defeating rising Daniel Jacobs by fifth-round knockout on July 31, 2010, Pirog suffered a career-ending back injury. Pirog was preparing for the fight with Gennady Golovkin, which was to take place on August 25, 2012 on HBO.
Why is Beterbiev in no hurry?
Bivol is currently undergoing rehabilitation and will be sidelined until the first quarter of 2026. However, he will not be rushing into a trilogy with Artur Beterbiev or an undisputed championship fight against WBC champion David Benavidez.
The 34-year-old Bivol is expected to undergo a brief rehabilitation period before his third fight with his nemesis Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KO). Dmitry wants to make sure his back has been fully tested in the grueling fight before he faces Beterbiev again.
Even if Bivol never had back problems, the Arthur trilogy would be a nightmare for him. Beterbiev clearly admitted the mistakes he made in losing by a slim majority by 12 rounds to Bivol on February 22 in Riyad earlier this year. He is expected to be more aggressive in the trilogy and not take his foot off the gas pedal like he did between rounds 7 and 11 last February.
Tuning plans for 2026
No opponent was mentioned to replace Bivol in the first quarter of 2026, but it likely won’t be anyone top-tier at 175 pounds. It would be too risky. Bivol just needs to remove the rust and fully test his back in combat conditions.
Instead of facing the then mandatory Benavidez, Bivol vacated the WBC title in April 2025. He did it because he planned to fight in a trilogy with Beterbiev. A back injury delayed these plans. The WBC then elevated “The Mexican Monster” Benavidez to the airy heavyweight title through its organization.
Benavidez must wait
Bivol could decide to fight Benavidez to try to regain the undisputed 175 championship. That fight will likely have to wait until 2027 at the earliest. Bivol has preparations for early 2026, followed by a trilogy with Beterbiev in the second half of next year.
For his part, former undisputed airy heavyweight champion Beterbiev is busy fighting Deon Nicholson (22-1, 18 KO) in a 10-round fight on the Benavidez vs. fight card. Anthony Yarde on November 22, 2025 at the ANB Arena in Riyad. The event will be broadcast live on DAZN PPV.
Ken Woods was a senior writer in Boxing News 24 since 2013, covering sports from every angle. With years of reporting from the ring, he delivers fight news, results and analysis that cuts through the noise. Ken’s work consistently focuses on champions, challengers and prospects, giving fans a piercing and informed view of the global boxing scene.
The star fighter, who has made an astonishing 15 defenses of his welterweight world title, supported himself in a fantastic showdown with Terence Crawford.
He had previously won seven straight 147-pound world titles, all through stoppages, but he could only cement his position as top dog by dethroning Spence.
Not only did he defeat “The Truth” and win his three world titles, but Crawford secured a surprisingly one-sided defeat over nine rounds.
After that career-defining moment, the American became the undisputed three-division champion, moving up to 168 pounds to dethrone Canelo Alvarez.
However, at welterweight, Crawford managed to produce some of his best performances, perhaps striking the perfect balance between being vigorous and impressively fit.
Another man who has had considerable success at 147 pounds is, of course, Felix Trinidad, who reigned as the IBF world champion for almost seven years.
Two of his greatest victories came against Oscar De La Hoya and Pernell Whitaker, who both went on to create Hall of Fame careers in their own right.
It is therefore natural that “Tito” sees his chances in a direct fight with Crawford, saying: Fighting Hub TV that he would give “Bud” his only professional flaw.
“With all due respect to Crawford…Tito Trinidad – I will win.”
While no fighter has been able to answer Crawford’s mystery, it is equally safe and sound to say that the former five-division world champion has never faced someone like Trinidad.
Raizd announced the deal on Instagram on Monday, posting: “Official: Robeisy ‘El Tren’ Ramirez signs with RAIZD BOXING. World-class addition. Former WBO World Featherweight Champion. Two-time Olympic gold medalist. Welcome to the team, Robeisy.”
For a startup that is still building its name, this is a robust impulse. For everyone else, it encourages questions. There has been no evident move from Zuffa Boxing, Matchroom Boxing, Golden Boy Promotions or other major teams that often pursue recognizable talent.
When a two-time Gold Medalist hits the open market and the Massive Four don’t pull the trigger. Raizd Boxing is basically a ghost ship right now. They are so modern that they haven’t even held their first event yet.
As for why the giants have stayed away, it probably comes down to a combination of time, shelf life and the ongoing business changes many of these companies are making.
At 126 pounds, 32 is on the older side. Promoters are notoriously wary of small-time fighters who have just had a career-changing break. Perhaps they would prefer to wait and see if he has anything left before signing him to an high-priced multi-fight contract.
While Dana White is finally taking action, Zuffa is aggressively targeting younger, buzz-worthy talent like Edgar Berlanga and Richardson Hitchins. Ramirez is 32 years aged and had a brutal knockout loss to Rafael Espinoza in December. Zuffa could see him as a veteran of damaged goods rather than a fundamental piece of their launch.
Ramirez may not have the same shine he had when he fled Cuba or when he beat Shakur Stevenson in the amateurs, but fighters with that kind of experience rarely hit the open market.
His recent form likely played a role. Ramirez is 14-3 with nine knockouts and has lost two of his last three fights, with both losses coming to Rafael Espinoza, including a stoppage in the rematch. At 32 years aged, he is no longer a long-term project that can be slowly developed.
Still, there is a clear advantage if handled properly. Ramirez remains a talented southpaw with the pedigree, experience and enough reputational value to quickly become relevant again at featherweight or above. If it combines wins, larger promoters may regret letting startup Raizd make the first move.
This marks the 27-year-old’s first victory since 2023, when he edged Oscar Duarte in the eighth round before his controversial fight with Devin Haney.
Despite a majority decision advantage over Haney, that result was declared a no-contest in April 2024 after “King Ry” tested positive for the banned substance ostarine.
Benn also failed a 2022 drug test ahead of his canceled fight against Chris Eubank Jr, whom he ultimately defeated in a middleweight rematch last November.
This followed a points defeat to Eubank in April 2025, although earlier this month Benn remained in the win column, ahead of Regis Prograis, who subsequently announced his retirement.
However, despite his last fight at 150 pounds, the 29-year-old now wants to capitalize on his No. 1 ranking in the WBC and fight Garcia.
I’m talking to ESNEWSformer two-division world champion Bradley gave Benn little more than a prayer against Garcia.
“Ryan knocks him out.”
As the top contender for the WBC welterweight title, Benn is expected to be ordered to fight Garcia in the not-too-distant future, even if ongoing negotiations fail.
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