SAN DIEGO – Dmitry Bivol knew the questions were coming. For all the people who wanted to ask Bivol, an undefeated light heavyweight champion, about his upcoming title defense against Canelo Álvarez, more wanted to quiz Bivol, a Russian citizen, on his thoughts about the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
“I have a lot of friends in Ukraine,” says Bivol. “I have a lot of friends in Russia. My family is in Russia. I have a lot of friends everywhere. I wish them only peace and only the best. It’s really sad for me. Every day I wake up and read the news. I hope [the war] stops.”
As the battles between Russia and Ukraine intensify, sports, and boxing in particular, have played a part in illuminating the conflict. Vitali Klitschko, a three-time heavyweight champion, is the mayor of Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital. His brother, Wladimir, who held a heavyweight title for more than a decade, is there alongside him. After the fighting started, Oleksandr Usyk, the unified heavyweight champion, flew back to Ukraine. Vasyl Lomachenko, a three-division titleholder, is there, too.
