Dmitry Bivol delivered a boxing masterclass against Artur Beterbiev on February 22, securing the undisputed light-heavyweight championship via majority decision in Riyadh. The 34-year-old Russian's tactical brilliance propelled him to fourth place in The Sporting News pound-for-pound rankings.
Bivol's calculated revenge victory over Beterbiev represents his most significant career achievement to date, leapfrogging both his recent opponent and Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez in the global standings. What makes this accomplishment even more impressive? Bivol now holds signature wins over both men.
The light-heavyweight division suddenly has a clear king, but boxing's pound-for-pound throne remains firmly occupied by Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian solidified his status as world's best fighter after regaining the unified heavyweight championship with a unanimous decision win over Tyson Fury last December.
Naoya Inoue and Terence Crawford complete the elite top three, with Crawford reportedly heading toward his own superfight against Alvarez. For Bivol, either a trilogy showdown with Beterbiev or a potential clash with 12th-ranked David Benevidez could potentially elevate him even further up the rankings.
Lower in the standings, Gervonta Davis narrowly maintained his ninth position following a controversial majority draw against Lamont Roach Jr. Many observers believe 'Tank' was fortunate to escape with his ranking intact after what many considered an underwhelming performance.
Meanwhile, Shakur Stevenson and Junto Nakatani defended their respective WBC titles at lightweight and bantamweight with routine victories that did little to enhance their pound-for-pound credentials.
Usyk's position atop the boxing world appears unassailable. At 37, the former Olympic champion has accomplished what few fighters ever could - becoming the first undisputed cruiserweight champion to achieve the same distinction at heavyweight since Evander Holyfield over three decades ago.
Despite giving away significant physical advantages to today's heavyweight giants, the cerebral southpaw has established himself as the division's undisputed king. His resume boasts impressive victories over Mairis Briedis, Murat Gassiev, Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois, and of course, Fury.
Can Bivol eventually challenge Usyk's pound-for-pound supremacy? He'll need more than just his undisputed status to make that case.
