Malik Zinad’s Valiant Effort Falls Short Against Dominant Bivol in Boxing Showdown
Just five weeks after clinching a majority decision victory in Australia, Malik Zinad stepped into the ring against light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Despite his best efforts to remain competitive against one of the world’s top boxers, Zinad’s valiance ultimately proved futile as he succumbed to a sixth-round knockout.
Zinad (22-1, 16 KOs) started the fight positively, utilizing a long jab and occasionally mixing in a right hand. However, he appeared visibly anxious as the cool and composed Bivol (23-0, 12 KOs) closely observed his movements. In the first round, Zinad was knocked down by a rapid-fire three-punch combination from Bivol, but the Libya-born, Malta-based boxer refused to buckle, returning immediately to his game plan.
“I believed that my power was every time with me. I didn’t have doubt.”
- Dmitry Bivol
Throughout the fight, Zinad’s strategy revolved around his jab, and he even briefly taunted Bivol at the end of the fourth round by placing his forehead against his opponent’s. While this move’s impact on the outcome remains unclear, it did little to deter the champion.
In the fifth round, Bivol increased the intensity, closing the gap and forcing Zinad to work harder. The gulf in class between the two was evident, and Bivol was simply biding his time. In the sixth round, a left hook followed by a devastating straight right hand detonated on Zinad’s jaw, sending him into the ropes and prompting the referee to stop the contest at the 2:06 mark.
Bivol’s victory marked his first knockout win since 2018, a span of six years and nine fights. The Russian champion, who was initially scheduled to face Artur Beterbiev for the undisputed light heavyweight title, expressed confidence in his power.
The much-anticipated Bivol-Beterbiev clash has now been rescheduled for October 12, following Beterbiev’s recent knee injury.
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