Bivol is slowing down

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Devon, May 30, 2026.


Do you agree with my observation?

  1. Yes

    17 vote(s)
    68.0%

  2. No

    8 vote(s)
    32.0%
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  1. Devon

    Devon Boxing Addict Full Member

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    He still looked sharp on the counter, quick hands and great punch selection and brilliant IQ in how he sets things up, but I couldn’t help but notice his feet and upper body movement didn’t look as light or explosive, and he generally looked more flat footed too, maybe that’s due to him not long coming off of back surgery, and you kind of subconsciously use your lower back to an extent when you’re moving, but it could also simply be due to him being 35, who knows, but tbf, injures are indeed a part of what we call ‘aging’, so ‘he was just injured’ may be a redundant argument, because he could be the same from now on due to that surgery.

    After he throws combinations, he usually bounces back out with very light and explosive foot and upper body movement, but it was like he was kind of holding his feet and also his upper body in place after the attacks, and just relying on the guard instead.

    Like I said, his counters with the hands were still sharp, his IQ in setting things up was clearly as good as ever, and his punch selection was as good as ever, but these kind of things typically last a bit longer than mobility/agility and movement, and like I said, movement and agility is an integral part of Bivol’s style. It might be unfair to say he relies on it with how great he is overall, but it certainly is a very important attribute to his style, and he’d be missing a huge part of his game without it.

    The way we see him shift his weight effortlessly from front-foot to back-foot or vice versa, or the way he can shift to the side explosively with his upper body to create a different angle of attack, it just wasn’t there to the same degree.

    He was often stalking Eifert, measuring with the lead hand, but not as many foot feints, not as light on his feet to make the attacks unpredictable, there was a lot more flat footed stalking than what I’m used to seeing from Bivol.

    Maybe he can fully recover and be more agile against Benavidez, but if he’s not, this is absolutely something Benavidez can exploit.
     
    Last edited: May 30, 2026
    Devon, May 30, 2026
    Devon, May 30, 2026
    #1
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  2. tarrant45

    tarrant45 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Did he finally say he wants to fight Benavidez next? Or more run around?
     
    tarrant45, May 30, 2026
    tarrant45, May 30, 2026
    #2
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  3. West of Hollywood

    West of Hollywood Active Member Full Member

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    Given his age, recent inactivity, and surgery I wasn't surprised he wasn't at his absolute best. I also think Bivol needs a better opponent to get out of first and second gears. Still he won every round, barely got touched, scored a knock-down, and gave the impression that if he took a few risks he could have got a stoppage.
     
    West of Hollywood, May 30, 2026
    West of Hollywood, May 30, 2026
    #3
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  4. Mickc

    Mickc Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Feed Bivol to Benavidez :tiburon: if Benavidez can get Bivol to share a ring with him that is .
     
    Mickc, May 30, 2026
    Mickc, May 30, 2026
    #4
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  5. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

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    I observed this too. He still looked really good but like a diminished version to the one we last saw to me. This wasn't the case when he returned from injury the last time and he was out for 19 months then. Some of it was subtle but I noticed it pretty quickly
     
    Serge, May 30, 2026
    Serge, May 30, 2026
    #5
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  6. HistoryZero26

    HistoryZero26 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Yes his aging out games will backfire in the end. The rest of the division besides Beterbiev is much younger.
     
    HistoryZero26, May 30, 2026
    HistoryZero26, May 30, 2026
    #6
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  7. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    He's 35 and inactive ,,, seasoned boxing observers know where that can lead
     
    Reinhardt, May 30, 2026
    Reinhardt, May 30, 2026
    #7
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  8. boxingexpert733

    boxingexpert733 Active Member Full Member

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    Meanwhile Beterbiev at the same age was in his prime
     
    boxingexpert733, May 30, 2026
    boxingexpert733, May 30, 2026
    #8
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  9. Barrf

    Barrf Boxing Addict Full Member

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    they are very different fighters.
     
    Barrf, May 30, 2026
    Barrf, May 30, 2026
    #9
  10. boxingexpert733

    boxingexpert733 Active Member Full Member

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    yeah Beterbiev has the more physically taxing style (pressure fighter) which is why I find it ironic
     
    boxingexpert733, May 30, 2026
    boxingexpert733, May 30, 2026
    #10
  11. kirk

    kirk l l l Staff Member

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    Understandable and expected, imo.
     
    kirk, May 30, 2026
    kirk, May 30, 2026
    #11
  12. TNSNO1878

    TNSNO1878 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I do agree with your observation, but I also think Bivol still has enough to beat Benavidez. If he fights him next, I am putting money on Bivol decision. I think he bamboozles Benavidez even now, and I also think he is much more naturally athletic with a better ring IQ. He doesn't rely too much on his speed, and I think Benavidez's power would not really impact him. Beterbiev barely had him in trouble, and David doesn't hit as hard as Beterbiev, even up at cruiserweight.
     
    TNSNO1878, May 30, 2026
    TNSNO1878, May 30, 2026
    #12
  13. Samart'sTeep

    Samart'sTeep Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Bivol’s original style is incredibly physically taxing on the legs and the lungs. Constantly using the pendulum step, moving in and out of range, is an exhausting way to fight. That’s a young man’s style. It was obvious that he wasn’t going to be able to fight that way forever. He didn’t really use it in the two Beterbiev fights, either, but I think that was more of a well thought out strategic choice in those instances. Still, just because Bivol hasn’t taken much punishment to his head throughout his career doesn’t mean his style hasn’t taken a toll on his body.
     
    Samart'sTeep, May 30, 2026
    Samart'sTeep, May 30, 2026
    #13
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  14. SquaredCircle

    SquaredCircle Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Bivol is past his athletic peak, which I fully expected especially after back surgery at 35. Still a supreme outboxer/technician.
     
    SquaredCircle, May 30, 2026
    SquaredCircle, May 30, 2026
    #14
  15. MorvidusStyle

    MorvidusStyle Boxing Addict Full Member

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    He doesn't have enough power to fight into middle-age. Once he slows down enough, he probably gets ground down. This is what happened to degale actually, at 33.
     
    MorvidusStyle, May 30, 2026
    MorvidusStyle, May 30, 2026
    #15
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