Sergey Alexandrovich Kovalev vs. Igor Gennadyevich Mikhalkin & Dmitry Bivol vs. Sullivan Barrera RBR

Dmitry Yuriyevich Bivol might be the best h2h light heavyweight in the world right now. I'm not altogether ready to declare that just on the basis of schooling Barrera (whom I've never bought as the "consummate slick Cuban master boxer" some believe him to be, although he is a top shelf opponent to be dominating like this) ...and yet...he's well on his way to proving it conclusively IMO, this is maybe not THE nail in the coffin, but that lid is pretty securely on there, might only take another single nail of this stature...

 

Lederman has it 90-81 Bivol.

 

Man the main event is going to be such a letdown after this. I can't think of anything Kovalev might be able to do with Mikhalkin as impressive as this masterclass. Even a brutal decapitating KO1, it'll be like "Meh, okay, yeah, cool..."

 

Round 10

Bivol is getting jabbed on the belly now as he zigzags on the outside. Bivol getting on his bike, to an extent, playing with the confidence of knowing he already has a significant points lead banked. Bivol just tapping with the jab while carrying the left hand low by the hip. Barrera not really making him pay for his relative complacence, unable to get near him with anything without getting zapped with sharp counters, Bivol with plenty of energy reserved to still fire hard 1-2s as needed.

10-9 Bivol, closer

100-90 Bivol

 

Round 11

Bivol is targeting Barrera's cheekbones with the jab, and exacerbating the swelling. Bivol surgical with the jab. Barrera tossing 1-2s very heavily, arm-weary, hanging pregnant in midair. Bivol again not getting wild even though you can see in his eyes that he smells the proverbial blood in the water. Jabs landing in multitudes from a variety of angles, now combined with vicious body combos. Bivol showing a downright Mexican left rip on the liver to punctuate his combos. Barrera is HURTING, sucking wind.

10-9 Bivol

110-99 Bivol

 

10x more skilled than Kovalev (and I'm very much a Kovalev fan and consider his skills underrated)

 

Round 12

Bivol is drawing the lead from Barrera in the middle of the ring, flinching away from the jab and boomeranging in with a pull-counter right or stiff jab of his own. Barrera always missing when he shoots first...so he stops. Bivol is scuffing his feet in short rapid baby-steps around Barrera. Increases his foot speed. Barrera can't whirl to square up in time. Combo from Bivol - power-jab, right cross blocked, next 1-2 crashes through Barrera's guard and lands with authority flush on his temple and Barrera is DOWN! AND RELUCTANT TO BEAT THE COUNT!! WAVED OFF!

TKO12!!

 

Dmitry Yuriyevich Bivol >>>>>>>>>>> Andre Michael Ward.