How a decade-old injury has sidelined Dmitry Bivol and halted a mega-fight

Artur Beterbiev (21-1) has ended his bid for a trilogy fight with Dmitry Bivol (24-1), opting instead to face Deon Nicholson this November. The third bout between the Russian fighters had been planned for Russia, but we now know why they won’t be stepping into the ring again just yet.

What’s happening with Dmitry Bivol?

Bivol revealed in an Instagram post that he underwent surgery to treat an old back injury that has troubled him for over a decade. According to the Russian boxer, recovery could take up to two months, after which he plans to resume training.

“Following my doctor’s advice, I underwent surgery for an old back injury that has bothered me for more than ten years and worsened with every training camp,” Bivol said. “Everything went well and I already feel much better. A recovery period of six to eight weeks is ahead, after which I’ll be back in training.”

Bivol captured the IBF, WBO, IBO and WBC belts after defeating Beterbiev in February by majority decision. However, he lost the WBC title after refusing to face David Benavidez (30-0), the organization’s mandatory challenger.

Who will Dmitry Bivol fight next?

The surgery will sideline Bivol for two months, meaning he could be back sparring in early October once fully recovered. That gives him plenty of time to prepare for a possible bout in late 2025 or early 2026. The former undisputed 175-pound champion has one advantage – his two potential opponents, Beterbiev and Benavidez, will be fighting on the same night.

Both the Russian and the American of Ecuadorian and Mexican heritage will enter the ring on November 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Beterbiev will face Nicholson, while Benavidez will take on Anthony Yarde.

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