Former WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol is unwinding in Milan, Italy, after his contentious majority decision loss to Artur Beterbiev, who now reigns as the undisputed light heavyweight champion. The two warriors engaged in a grueling 12-round clash on October 12 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, delivering a fight that sparked heated debate in the aftermath.

While the bout was razor-close, judge Pawel Kardyni’s score of 116-112 drew sharp criticism, particularly from Bivol’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, who didn’t hold back in lambasting the decision. Bivol, undeterred by the loss, expressed his determination to secure a rematch. However, the IBF’s directive for Beterbiev to defend his title against a mandatory challenger complicated matters, leaving Bivol openly dissatisfied with the ruling.

Dmitry Bivol: From lost fight to viral meme

The 33-year-old has taken proactive steps in pursuit of a rematch with Artur Beterbiev. Through his lawyer, Bivol sent a formal letter to the four major sanctioning bodies—WBO, WBA, IBF, and WBC—requesting their support in facilitating a second showdown with the undisputed light heavyweight champion. However, the path forward is complicated by the IBF’s directive for Beterbiev to begin negotiations with Germany’s Michael Eifert, his mandatory challenger.

Despite this hurdle, Bivol’s hope for an immediate rematch is not entirely dashed. The IBF has stated that Beterbiev could request an “exception” to make a voluntary defense instead of facing Eifert. While no updates have been provided on the matter, the situation took an unusual turn when Beterbiev recently floated the idea of fighting social media star Jake Paul, following Paul’s victory over Mike Tyson in Texas.

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Regardless, for now, Bivol appears to be taking a well-earned break, enjoying a vacation in Milan, Italy. Yesterday, he shared three photos on Instagram with the caption, “Vacations in Milan! Hey there everyone!” Dressed in an all-beige outfit, the former champion exuded a casual vibe as he posed for the camera.

One of the pictures, however, has unexpectedly stolen the spotlight. In the second image, a woman walking behind Bivol can be seen turning her head in a moment reminiscent of the famous “Distracted Boyfriend” meme. Fans quickly picked up on the resemblance, sparking a playful frenzy in the comments section. 

Bivol’s ex-wife roped in

Bivol may have come up short in the ring, but the internet never misses a punchline. One fan was quick to spot the resemblance between the viral meme and Bivol’s photo, commenting, “This guy recreating memes now😭😭.” Whether the moment was staged or simply a hilarious coincidence remains unclear, but it’s already making waves online.

Meanwhile, social media influencer Abdu Rozik also chimed in. “😍,” he reacted. Interestingly, Rozik, a native of Tajikistan, hails from a country that shares a 984-kilometer (611-mile) border with Bivol’s homeland, Kyrgyzstan—adding a touch of regional camaraderie to the online buzz.

Another fan saw untapped potential in the photo. “Second pic has Meme potential,” the user commented. It doesn’t take much for things to become a meme, so you can never rule out the possibility. 

Someone else roped in Bivol’s ex-wife, Ekaterina. “Bivol’s ex-wife should be fuming right now,” the user commented. The former couple separated last year, and their divorce was reportedly very messy. Ekaterina has openly wished for Bivol’s downfall, going as far as to accuse the boxer of severe crimes online. 

Amid all the chatter about the meme-worthy picture, this user branded Bivol the true champion. “The true undisputed champ is on vacation! Enjoy your time Dmitry,” the user commented. However, Beterbiev’s team might have an issue with that statement. Still, you can not deny the fight Bivol put on during their clash. 

That being said, whether Dmitry Bivol’s image turns into a meme is yet to be seen. But the comments from his fans suggest they are loving it anyway. What about you? What did you think of the image?