In the light heavyweight division, it isn’t just the canvas making noise again—the champion’s private life is, too: Dmitry Bivol’s ex-wife, Ekaterina, recorded a new message after their face-to-face meeting at the Children’s Rights Ombudsman’s reception office in St. Petersburg. In the office she tried to film her former husband, then publicly claimed that “the 90 million he put into his account was borrowed”—and added: “he has no money, he’s poor.” The scene and the quotes quickly spread across the media and social networks, stoking the couple’s long-running conflict.
Meeting at the Children’s Rights Ombudsman: Footage, Quotes, Fallout
According to Sports.ru, the meeting took place in the reception office of the Children’s Rights Ombudsman in St. Petersburg. In the released footage, Ekaterina can be heard saying “don’t hide your face,” while Bivol turns away and walks out of frame. Comments on social media split instantly: some accused the woman of “media pressure,” while others demanded transparency from the boxer on financial matters. One fact remains: the quotes and the video came from Ekaterina herself, and their content reflects her position.
“Don’t hide your face, we’re already in the office, it’s legal.”
“We can’t agree on anything. Because the 90 million he put into his account was borrowed… he has no money, he’s poor.”
"33% from the Saudis": How the Personal Spilled into Big-Time Boxing
The tension in the public arena has been ongoing since 2023, when Ekaterina announced their separation after 15 years together. In the summer of 2024, she urged to “cancel the Bivol — Beterbiev fight,” demanding, by her account, 33% of the athlete’s income “from the Saudis” for the children. She posted these appeals on social media; that was when the topic of alimony and payment terms moved beyond a private family matter and became a factor in the information agenda around the mega-bout.
Two Parts of One Saga: The First Fight and the Rematch
The first encounter between Bivol and Beterbiev took place in October 2024 and ended with Artur’s victory by majority decision—a close, grueling, and contentious fight that made a rematch sound inevitable.
The second act followed on February 22, 2025, in Riyadh: Dmitry Bivol rallied and claimed the status of undisputed world champion at light heavyweight on points (scorecards 116–112 and 115–113, with one even at 114–114). For Beterbiev, it was the first loss of his career, and for the division it marked a shift in the balance of power. Even then, both sides were already talking about a potential trilogy.
Why Personal Scandals Are Also a Factor in Fights
For elite athletes, the private has long ceased to be private: every post is a signal to managers, promoters, and fans. When a family dispute spills into the public eye during negotiations for a fight, it influences expectation inflation, the narrative, and even the “bargaining price” of names in main events. Bivol’s story illustrates this clearly: amid sharp public statements, he keeps his composure in the ring—technical discipline and tempo control proved the keys to his victory in the rematch. But the media backdrop hasn’t vanished: new clips, new claims, and new headlines continue to follow the champion.
What’s Next
On the sporting side, discussions of a third Bivol — Beterbiev bout are the logical next step—the competitive and commercial intrigue is simply too great. Outside the ring, another round of public back-and-forth is likely: the parties interpret financial and family issues differently, and they have brought them into the public arena more than once. Until then, the main advice for readers remains the same: separate the ring from everyday emotions and rely on verified sources—judges keep score in sport, and courts decide on alimony and property disputes.
