“I Am a Product of the Soviet Union”: Rating Soviet Boxing School Above Western Ones, Dmitry Bivol Explains Why Fighters From USSR Countries Are So Successful

Dmitry Bivol is eagerly looking forward to the next weekend. Unified light heavyweight champion and rival Artur Beterbiev will defend his titles from Callum Smith. If the former wins, there’s a good chance of an all-Russian meet-up, for which Bivol seems to have given his assent, to settle the undisputed argument. The line-up, if it makes it to fruition, joins the Tyson Fury–Oleksandr Usyk blockbuster and a tentative Vasyl Lomachenko versus George Kambosos Jr. spring surprise.

If noticed carefully, they seem to share a common narrative. Despite their relatively younger age, in one way or another, most learned their ropes in old-school boxing academies or from the trainers of the Soviet era. Boxers of Russian origin as well as those from former Soviet Union states have been a dominant force in the sport for some time. Who can forget the Klitschko era? The two brothers, Wladimir and Vitali, lorded over the heavyweight division between 2004 and 2015. So what is it that makes boxers, even those born after the disintegration of the erstwhile Soviet Union, remain such a potent force in boxing? Blissfully aware of how the legacy has worked for him, Bivol seems to have some of the answers.

Dmitry Bivol: A Legacy Bearer

Speaking to State Express, Dmitry Bivol said, “I am a product of the Soviet Union. Moldova and Kyrgyzstan were part of the USSR. My parents met in Russia. And after the collapse of the Union, I began to divide myself. And I belong to Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Moldova.”

Bivol remains one of the finest practitioners of the Soviet pendulum style. He explained how he throws punches while jumping on the balls of his feet. Thus, he never stays stationary. The light heavyweight champion said, “…characteristic of the Soviet school of boxing is that the boxer throws punches while moving. He moves, moves, strikes – and continues to move. Not like Western boxers. Many [of Western boxers], if we look, move, move, then stop, throw a series, and leave. With a shuttle, a boxer can strike on the move. This is a huge plus.”

The style basically helps a fighter control the distance. By shifting the weight between the front and back legs, Bivol is able to close in and move out vis-à-vis the opponent. Other boxers who follow the example could be Lomachenko and Usyk. But then, on the other hand, there is Gennady Golovkin, who instead prefers to plant his foot, thereby enabling him to execute those thundering power shots of his.

Soviet Style: In a Different Class?

According to Dmitry Bivol, the boxers from post-Soviet states succeeded since they introduced a novelty. It was something Western boxing was unaccustomed to. He said, “For boxers from the former Soviet Union, that footwork is the basis. For Western fighters to face, that has been a bit unusual—something new for them. We transfer that base to professional boxing. Few fighters do it, but our fighters from the former Soviet republics do.”

However, it must be highlighted that, unlike many boxers who stay true to one style, Bivol adapts himself according to the type of opponent he is facing. He said, “If you take boxing purely from the Soviet amateur school and put it in a 12-round fight, it most likely won’t work.”

Hence, he strongly recommends mixing and matching per the situation in the ring. “What you need is to take some things from the Soviet school, but stop jumping at some point, stand at other times, and be more cautious in other phases because it is a long 12-round fight,” he said.

But overall, he still feels that the foundations of the old Soviet school of boxing stand on a firm footing in comparison to the Western style. However, it is subject to proper adjustments, suitable for modern professional boxing.

Read More: “Outboxes Him”: Fans Predict Dmitry Bivol’s Fate Against Artur Beterbiev in Potential “Fight for the Ages”

What do you think? Is the old Soviet style of boxing superior to the Western style? Please share your views with us in the comments below.

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