Professional career
Making his professional debut in 2014, Bivol amassed six victories inside the distance before outpointing Felix Valera for the WBA interim light-heavyweight title. But despite becoming the sanctioning body’s mandatory challenger, he was ultimately denied the opportunity to face WBA ‘regular’ titlist Nathan Cleverly.
Instead, Cleverly lost his title to Badou Jack who, rather than face Bivol, decided to vacate his black and gold strap in 2017. As a result, Bivol was elevated to full WBA champion and made the first defence of his belt with a first-round stoppage victory over Trent Broadhurst.
The 175lb champion then made seven further defences of his title – claiming notable wins over Sullivan Barrera, Jean Pascal, Joe Smith Jr and Craig Richards – before facing Canelo Alvarez in 2022. With Alvarez moving up from super-middleweight, their showdown at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, represented by far the most lucrative opportunity of Bivol’s career.
But while the natural light-heavyweight produced a clinical display, all three judges scored the bout by a remarkably fine margin of 115-113 in his favour. Still, it was a victory that elevated his career astronomically and one that saw him make three title defences against Gilberto Ramirez, Lyndon Artur and Malik Zinad before entering an undisputed clash with Artur Beterbiev in 2024.
With all four major belts on the line, the pair locked horns in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for what ultimately delivered an enthralling and closely contested 12-round spectacle. But despite protests from team Bivol – with his manager, Vadim Kornilov, demanding for judge Pawel Kardyni to be suspended – it was Beterbiev who edged a majority decision on the scorecards.
Bivol secured revenge against Beterbiev, claiming a split decision victory when the pair met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for their rematch on February 22, 2025.
Trainers
While training with his father, Bivol also joined forces with veteran boxing coach Gennady Gushianov during the later years of his amateur career.
The pair now train in Southern California, where the majority of Bivol’s camps as a professional have taken place.
