Dmitry Bivol delivered a masterclass against Artur Beterbiev on February 22, claiming a majority decision victory in Riyadh to become the undisputed light-heavyweight champion of the world.
The 34-year-old Russian has made the biggest leap in The Sporting News pound-for-pound rankings early in 2025, jumping to fourth overall after leapfrogging both Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Beterbiev himself.
"This is what I've worked toward my entire career - to prove I'm the best in my division," Bivol reportedly told his team after the victory.
The revenge win puts Bivol in elite company, with only Oleksandr Usyk, Naoya Inoue, and Terence Crawford ranked above him in the global pound-for-pound standings.
Usyk, by the way, solidified his position as boxing's pound-for-pound king after regaining the unified heavyweight championship with a unanimous decision over Tyson Fury last December. The 37-year-old Ukrainian has essentially completed boxing - going from Olympic gold medalist to undisputed cruiserweight champion to heavyweight king.
Bivol's path forward is clear. He can further cement his legacy with either a trilogy bout against Beterbiev or by taking on the 12th-ranked David Benevidez in a potentially career-defining showdown.
Interestingly, Gervonta Davis barely clings to his ninth position in the rankings following a controversial majority draw against Lamont Roach Jr. The fighter known as 'Tank' must redeem himself in a rematch to maintain his elite status.
Lower in the rankings, Shakur Stevenson and Junto Nakatani recently defended their WBC titles at lightweight and bantamweight respectively, though neither performance was impressive enough to climb the pound-for-pound ladder.
Can Bivol eventually challenge for the top spot? With Usyk approaching the twilight of his career at 37, the light-heavyweight king might have his eyes on more than just divisional dominance.
