Dmitry Bivol Stops Malik Zinad to Set Up Undisputed Title Fight with Artur Beterbiev
Bivol Stops Zinad in Round 6
For the first time in 10 fights, Dmitry Bivol scored a stoppage win on Saturday with a sixth-round TKO of Malik Zinad, retaining his WBA light heavyweight title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Bivol vs. Beterbiev Set for October
Bivol (23-0, 11 KOs) will now move on to an undisputed light heavyweight championship fight against Artur Beterbiev on October 12 in Riyadh, according to Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority.
Zinad Steps In as Replacement
Bivol and Beterbiev were originally set to fight on Saturday, but Beterbiev underwent surgery last month to repair a ruptured meniscus. Libya's Malik Zinad (22-1, 16 KOs) stepped in less than 30 days before the fight, entering the ring as a major underdog in his first world title bid.
Early Dominance by Bivol
The 33-year-old Bivol floored Zinad in the opening round with a three-punch combination and outboxed him over the next four frames. In Round 6, Bivol broke through with a left hook that rocked Zinad. Bivol followed up with a barrage of punches along the ropes, prompting the referee to halt the action with Zinad defenseless at 2:06.
"I believe that my power is with me every time," Bivol said. "I didn't have doubts, of course [my] power [is] with me."
Future Fights and Bivol’s Legacy
Bivol owns a victory over the sport's top star, Canelo Alvarez, and is ESPN's No. 5 pound-for-pound boxer. His footwork and ability to control range with his jab are among the best in the world.
"You are one of the best fighters ever and you deserve this," Alalshikh told Bivol. "We offer for you four or five fights -- big fights. We want to see you against [David] Benavidez, we want to see you against [Jai] Opetaia, against the tough [opponents]."
Anticipation for the Bivol vs. Beterbiev Showdown
While both Benavidez and Opetaia are excellent potential matchups, none are as attractive as the October showdown with Beterbiev, a 39-year-old Russian with a 100% KO ratio. Beterbiev is one spot behind Bivol on ESPN's pound-for-pound list. The bout against Bivol has been one of boxing's most anticipated for years.
