Dmitry Bivol, the Russian light heavyweight boxing champion, recently traded his boxing gloves for football boots. The fighter joined Zenit, one of Russia's top soccer clubs, for a day of training and celebrations as part of the team's 100th anniversary festivities.
Bivol's day at Zenit's facilities was packed with activities. He went through the first team's routine, hitting the gym and the pitch. The boxer even got to play a game with the squad, scoring a couple of goals. The club welcomed him like a new signing, complete with the traditional welcome corridor.
This football adventure shows Bivol's love for the sport. It's no secret he's a big fan of soccer and Zenit in particular. But his foray into football has sparked questions about his boxing future, especially regarding a potential rematch with Canelo Alvarez.
Canelo and Bivol first faced off on May 7, 2022. Bivol handed the Mexican star only his second career defeat. Now, three years later, there's talk of a rematch. Canelo has expressed interest in facing Bivol again, and his promoter, Turki Alalashakih, finds the idea attractive. They're looking at potential fights for 2026, with Bivol in the mix.
But before any rematch can happen, both fighters have other challenges to face. Canelo will defend his super middleweight belts against Terence Crawford on Saturday, September 13, in Las Vegas. Crawford, who fought at super middleweight between 2016 and 2018, will be moving up in weight for this bout.
Bivol, on the other hand, has a big fight coming up on February 22. He'll face Artur Beterbiev at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the undisputed light heavyweight title on the line. Beterbiev currently holds the IBF, WBO, and WBC light heavyweight belts.
With these upcoming fights and Bivol's recent football adventure, the path to a Canelo-Bivol rematch remains uncertain. For now, fans will have to wait and see how things play out in the ring - and on the pitch - for these top boxers.
