This Saturday, World Boxing Association (WBA) light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol (16-0, 11 KOs) will be defending his world title against Lenin Castillo (20-2-1, 15 KOs). The fight will be taking place at Wintrust Arena in Chicago and be broadcast on DAZN.
“I’m very excited to be in Chicago, this is my first time here and I like it here very much,” said the 28-year-old, a native of St. Petersburg, Russia. “Big beautiful buildings, very nice people and it’s a very clean city. I’m glad that I’m fighting here on Saturday night. I’m very happy that there are a lot of Kyrgyzstan, Russian and Ukrainian fans in addition to so many local fans coming to the fight.”
“I know for Castillo this a big opportunity but we’ve prepared very well in Los Angeles and I look forward to putting on a great performance for those in attendance and watching on DAZN. Since I became a world champion over two years ago I’ve wanted the toughest challenges and the biggest fights, either world title unification fights or any of the top names.”
It will be Bivol’s fifth defense of his title that he won back in November of 2017. He will be coming into the fight after previously beating Joe Smith Jr. by a wide unanimous decision back in March. Castillo has stopped all eight of his opponents in his last eight victories.
Wondering how long this guy will be avoided. Hopefully the unification winner next week will call him out.
He is probably the best in the light heavyweight division.
This division is crazy good champ wise. If Loma is considered number 1 P4P all theses guys should be lined right up as 2,3,4 Kovalev excluded LOL. All three champs have less than 20 wins. All of them have faced tough, dangerous, or experienced fighters from the start of their careers. All of them have demolished or overmatched everyone they’ve faced. Bivol just seems like the perfect boxer. The closest score he’s had is 116-112 and all the other judges had him winning by more than that in that fight. He said he’d chase the best at 168 for a big matchup. Good luck getting those guys.
This division will be extremely interesting to watch next year. The talent and power among the elite fighters is impressive, and Bivol is one of the main contenders to rule the division.
Castillo should be no match for Bivol, who will soon be ready to fight the best in the division.
My current favorite is Gvozdyk, but I am sure we will also see/hear more from Beterbiev, Gilberto Ramirez, Eleider Alvarez, and of course Yarde. IMO, all of these fighters have the potential to unify the division. One way or the other, this division will be one of the most watched next year.
Bivol is an extreme manster for sure!!!
No way Castillo makes it to the 5th round. No chance.