Dmitry Bivol Elevated to Super Champion
Finally in what seems to have taken forever the WBA “regular” light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol (16-0, 11KO) has been elevated to Super Champion status.
This news comes ahead of the upcoming title defense against Lenin Castillo (20-2-1, 15KO) on the undercard of the heavyweight contest between Oleksandr Uysk and Chazz Witherspoon.
That will take place on October 12 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, streamed live on DAZN.
A LOOK BACK INTO HISTORY
The 28-year old, supremely skilled boxer won the WBA Interim title back in 2016 after defeating Felix Valera. This put the wheels in motion for a title opportunity sometime down the line.
However, a few obstacles would need resolving before a title shot would come. From winter of 2016 until the summer of 2017 the boxing community was engulfed in a two fight series between then Unified/WBA “Super” Champion Sergey Kovalev and Andre Ward.
Ward, winning both fights, sat atop of the division as the kingpin. However, shortly after, he would retire, leaving the Super champion status vacant. Then, also in that same summer of 2017, Badou Jack defeated WBA “regular” Champion Nathan Cleverly.
The Swedish fighter, after being victories, would drop the belt just when the WBA ordered a fight with the Interim champion Bivol to crown a new Super champion.
CONFUSING TURN OF EVENTS
The WBA automatically elevated the Interim champion to regular Champion status, however the Super status went unnamed until now. Former world champion Jean Pascal captured the WBA Interim title by defeating Marcus Browne in August. The WBA is now elevating him to regular Champion status. Browne became WBA Interim champion by defeating the former regular champion Badou Jack in January; the same Jack who dropped the belt.
This is nothing short of confusing! This thing has comically come full circle and hence why many feel this head scratching process needs to change within the WBA organization.
There are several pundits and fans who don’t really view the regular champion as a true world champion. Also, given the fact fighting another champion wouldn’t be a unification is probably why Bivol is being skipped over.
Nonetheless, this is good news for the WBA “Super” champion being the forgotten fighter in a very competitive division. This could now see him getting in the mix simply because it would mean crowning an undisputed champion.
By: Garrisson Bland
