Dmitry Bivol delivered a tactical masterclass against Artur Beterbiev on February 22, securing a majority decision victory in Riyadh to become the undisputed light-heavyweight champion of the world.
"This is what I've worked for my entire career," Bivol might have said after cementing his place among boxing's elite.
The 34-year-old Russian's impressive performance has catapulted him to fourth in The Sporting News' pound-for-pound rankings, leapfrogging both Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and the defeated Beterbiev. Having now claimed signature wins over both men, Bivol's stock in world boxing has never been higher.
Meanwhile, Oleksandr Usyk continues to reign supreme atop the pound-for-pound charts. The Ukrainian warrior confirmed his status as boxing's premier fighter after regaining the unified heavyweight championship with a unanimous decision win over Tyson Fury last December.
Interestingly, Bivol could soon make a case for a top-three position if he manages to win a potential trilogy bout against Beterbiev or emerges victorious from a rumored showdown with 12th-ranked David Benavidez.
Naoya Inoue and Terence Crawford currently hold the second and third positions respectively, with Crawford reportedly on course for his own superfight against Alvarez.
Further down the rankings, Gervonta Davis has narrowly maintained his ninth-place standing despite a controversial majority draw with Lamont Roach Jr. that many observers felt he lost. The fighter known as 'Tank' will need to set things right in an immediate rematch to preserve his elite status.
Shakur Stevenson and Junto Nakatani completed routine WBC title defenses at lightweight and bantamweight respectively, but these performances weren't enough to improve their pound-for-pound positions.
At 37, Usyk has achieved what few fighters ever do – becoming the first undisputed cruiserweight champion to repeat the feat at heavyweight since Evander Holyfield over three decades ago. Despite giving away significant height and reach advantages to today's heavyweight giants, the crafty southpaw has proven himself the true king of boxing's glamour division.
Will Bivol's reign at light-heavyweight prove as dominant as Usyk's has been across two weight classes? That's the question boxing fans will be eager to see answered in the coming months.
