Artur Beterbiev has spent more than a year waiting for a trilogy fight with Dmitry Bivol, but every month that passes creates new problems. At 41 years old, inactivity is no longer just a scheduling issue. It raises legitimate questions about whether one of boxing’s most feared pressure fighters can return as the same fighter after such a long absence.
The former undisputed light heavyweight champion has not fought since dropping a majority decision to Bivol in February 2025. Many fans believed Beterbiev deserved the verdict after finishing the stronger of the two, making the lack of a third fight difficult to accept. Instead of settling
