Dmitry Bivol has never looked close to being stopped throughout his professional career.
He became undisputed light heavyweight champion earlier this year when he defeated Artur Beterbiev, avenging the loss he suffered to his countryman in October 2024.
The 34-year-old has also claimed a victory over Canelo Alvarez back in May 2022, making it clear why he is viewed as the best 175lb fighter in the world.
That defeat to Beterbiev is the only time Bivol hasn’t won in his career, with his record currently standing at 24 wins from 25 fights, but that hasn’t stopped three-weight world champion James Toney from naming the man that he believes could knock out the Russian.
Toney knows a thing or two about stoppage victories, having recorded 47 knockouts during his time as a middleweight, super-middleweight and cruiserweight world champion, and it’s another former super-middleweight world champion that ‘Lights Out’ has backed to stop Bivol.
Speaking to Mill City Boxing, Toney revealed that he feels undefeated David Benavidez would be up to the task.
“Benavidez is busier and hits harder. He stops Bivol.”
After becoming a two-time world champion at 168lbs, Benavidez moved up to 175lbs, where he now reigns as the WBC light heavyweight champion after Bivol vacated the belt in order to prioritise a trilogy contest against Beterbiev.
Benavidez makes the first defence of that belt on November 22 when he takes on Anthony Yarde in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and a win could potentially lead to a clash with Bivol, where Toney’s prediction will be put to the test.
