BOXING

Dmitry Bivol’s ex-wife hits below the belt ahead of Artur Beterbiev bout

Engaged in a very public spat over child support payments, Bivol’s ex, Ekaterina, hands over injury report to Beterbiev ahead of their unification fight.

@bivol_kate/Instagram

Dmitry Bivol has enough on his plate as he prepares to step into the ring with Artur Beterbiev on October 12. But now, it seems the punches are coming from a different direction - his personal life. In the weeks leading up to what’s being billed as the fight of his career, Bivol’s ex-wife, Ekaterina, has chosen this moment to air some damaging secrets. And she’s not pulling her punches.

Ekaterina, the mother of Bivol’s two sons, has gone public with claims about the WBA light heavyweight champion’s injuries. The revelations don’t come from a concerned place - they’re aimed directly at undermining him as he faces off against Beterbiev for the undisputed title. “After all the attacks on me, failure to pay child support for his sons, and complete refusal to communicate with them, I want to tell you everything I know,” she says.

And then she lays it all out - stress fractures, hand surgeries, sore knees, and a busted ear. Even his vision isn’t spared, with claims of fluid buildup around his eyes. But Ekaterina doesn’t stop there. She adds one last jab: “He is a coward.”

It’s a blistering attack that goes beyond injury reports. She’s throwing her full support behind Beterbiev, as if his victory would settle more than just a score in the ring. “We need your victory, Artur,” she says, urging Beterbiev to win, not just for himself, but for her and her children.

This isn’t the first time Ekaterina has gone after Bivol in public. Just days ago, she blasted him for paying what she sees as an inadequate amount of child support - $1,100 per month - especially in light of his substantial earnings over the years. She’s also accused him of hiding foreign bank accounts and seems intent on putting his financial shortcomings on display for everyone to see.

“Cancel Bivol for paying only $1,100 per month for both kids! He is hiding his foreign bank accounts. My children and I are cheering for Artur!”

For Bivol, these personal attacks must feel like they’re hitting below the belt, especially so close to the fight. With just two weeks to go until he meets Beterbiev in Saudi Arabia, his focus should be on the task ahead, but his ex-wife’s words threaten to cloud the picture.

While Bivol has remained tight-lipped in response to the accusations, it’s hard to imagine he’ll let these claims slide. The timing couldn’t be worse - just as he faces what many consider to be his greatest professional challenge, he’s forced to contend with his personal life unraveling in public view.

Whether these accusations will have any impact on the fight remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: the punches are coming from more than just one opponent right now.

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