On May 7, 2022, Canelo moved up to 175 lbs to challenge Dmitry Bivol for the WBA light-heavyweight title. Bivol was bigger, longer and extremely disciplined, and instead of being intimidated by Canelo’s reputation, he stood his ground and boxed him. Bivol’s jab, distance control, combinations and calmness were the story. Canelo tried to pressure him and attack the body, but Bivol kept his guard tight, fired back with combinations and refused to let Canelo establish his usual rhythm. Canelo also struggled to land cleanly; he finished with just 84 punches landed, a career low according to CBS Sports. And the crazy part? All three judges had Bivol winning 115–113, although several independent scorecards had the fight considerably wider.
Two of the era’s most unpredictable “bad boys” stepped into the ring, and chaos wasn’t long in coming: by the end of the very first round, Iron Mike sent the Pole to the canvas with a devastating right hook. In the second frame, Golota clutched desperately under relentless pressure, and before the third round, he simply spat out his mouthpiece and refused to continue, heading for the locker room through a shower of popcorn and beer tossed by an enraged crowd. The audience branded Golota a coward, but subsequent hospital checks revealed he had suffered a concussion, a fractured cheekbone, and a neck injury. In a final twist of irony, Tyson’s victory was later overturned to a “No Contest” after Iron Mike tested positive for marijuana.
The undisputed heavyweight king of the modern era, Lennox “The Lion” Lewis stands as the ultimate blue-print for big-man dominance. Retiring at the very top with an iconic 41-2-1 record (32 KOs), Lewis holds the immortal distinction of being the last undisputed heavyweight champion of the 1900s/early 2000s era and having defeated every single man he ever faced in a professional ring. As of early 2026, he remains widely regarded as a top-3 all-time heavyweight GOAT and a top-10 pound-for-pound legend in boxing history. Whether evaluating current heavyweight clashes — such as Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury — or reflecting on his historic victories over Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, Lewis’s commentary commands absolute authority. He didn’t just rule the division; he defined tactical, power-boxing perfection
“The Bronze Bomber” built his reputation around one of the most devastating right hands in heavyweight boxing, producing an extraordinary number of knockouts throughout his career. Even after setbacks against elite opponents, the threat never disappeared — because Wilder doesn’t need to dominate every second of a fight to change everything with one perfectly timed shot. His comeback has once again put the heavyweight division on notice. After stopping Tyrrell Herndon, Wilder showed that the power that made him one of the most feared punchers of his generation is still there. And that’s what makes a Wilder comeback so dangerous. You can outbox him, survive the early rounds, and feel like you’re in control — but you can never completely relax when that right hand is loaded. One mistake. One opening. One punch.