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Malik Zinad will replace Artur Beterbiev in a fight against WBA champion Dmitrii Bivol on June 1 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Beterbiev, holder of the WBC, IBF, and WBO belts, pulled out due to a knee injury sustained during training.
WBA light heavyweight boxing champion Dmitry Bivol will defend his title against Libyan Malik Zinad on June 1 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This is reported by ESPN with reference to Turki Alalshih, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia.
The unified heavyweight boxing world champion Artur Beterbiev made the first statement after the fight against WBA belt holder Dmitry Bivol was canceled.
The fight for the title of absolute champion was scheduled for June 1 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but was postponed due to a meniscus tear in the Canadian boxer.
"Dear friends, welcome everyone. Unfortunately, injuries in professional sports are not at all uncommon and no one is immune to them. I sincerely did not want the upcoming fight to be postponed, but the doctors insisted on the postponement.
Thank you to everyone who has already bought tickets, this fight will definitely take place, but a little later. Thank you all for your support," Beterbiev wrote in Instagram.
WBC, WBO and IBF light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev has been injured and will not be able to fight WBA belt holder Dmitry Bivol on June 1 in Saudi Arabia as scheduled.
According to insider Mike Coppinger, the Canadian boxer has a torn meniscus. It is expected that he will be able to return to the ring no earlier than September.
The information was later confirmed by the chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia, Turki Al Al-Sheikh:
"After receiving today's news about Beterbiev's injury, we will postpone this fight until later this year. I wish my brother Artur a speedy recovery. However, the 5 on 5 tournament will still take place on June 1," he wrote in X.
Former world champions Tony Bellew and Carl Froch disagreed on who they would choose as their opponent among current flyweight leaders Artur Beterbiev and Bivol.
Tony Bellew: "Bivol. Bivol, by all means. Who would you rather fight?"
Carl Froch: "I think Bivol is too hard to beat. I'd rather stand across from Beterbiev and put up a fight because he's missing and I'd have my chances against an opponent I can hit. I just don't think I could hit Bivol. He's too smart, isn't he? Bivol is fast, he's smart, he moves. But if I was at the right weight for me, I liked fighting boxers. Stylistically, Beterbiev sets traps, and if only you fall into one of them, you're on the canvas, you get lights out. Beterbiev is a welterweight with the hardest punch since Adonis Stevenson."
Dmitry Bivol's record currently stands at 21 wins, 0 lose and 0 draw.
Dmitry Bivol's last fight took place against Lyndon Arthur on Dec. 23, 2023, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He won by UD in the 12 round. That fight was 4 months and 19 days ago.
Bivol's last 3 fights have come over a period of 1 year, 7 months and 16 days, meaning he has been fighting on average every 6 months and 15 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 36 rounds, meaning that they have lasted 12 rounds on average.
Bivol was born in Kyrgyzstan.
The Dmitry Bivol is currently 33 years old. He was born on Dec. 18, 1990, so he will turn 34 in 7 months and 6 days.
Dmitry Bivol made his professional debut in November 2014, so he has been a pro for 9 years.
Bivol is 6' 0" (6 Foot and 0 inch) which is 183 cm (1 meter and 83 centimeters).
His reach is 72 inches (72") which is 183 cm (1 meter and 83 centimeters).
Bivol fights from a orthodox, which means he favours his right hand as his power hand when fighting.
