Inside the life of light-heavyweight boxer Dmitry Bivol’s parents Yelena and Yuriy
DMITRY Bivol owes much of his success to the unwavering support and sacrifices of his mum Yelena and dad Yuriy.
His parents will be cheering him on when he comes face-to-face with Artur Beterbiev on October 12, 2024 — with the winner becoming the undisputed light-heavyweight champion of the world.
Roots & heritage
Dmitry Bivol‘s mother Yelena was born in Kazakhstan when it was still part of the Soviet Union.
Her family, of Korean descent, later relocated to Kyrgyzstan.
Koreans arrived in the old Russian Empire in large numbers in and around the year 1870, becoming a significant ethnic group in the former USSR.
Dmitry‘s father Yuriy was born in the region formerly known Bessarabia, which is now called Moldova.
He grew up speaking only Moldovan until he was 10 years old.
Yelena and Yuriy’s marriage
Yelena and Yuriy’s love story started in Russia, where they had both relocated for their studies.
After finishing school they got married, but no details of their big day are available.
The couple made the decision to settle in Kyrgyzstan — Yelena’s home country.
It was here that Dmitry was born on in the city of Tokmok on December 18, 1990.
Life in Kyrgyzstan
In Tokmok, Yelena and Yuriy took up farming to support their young family in the newly independent Kyrgyzstan.
It was during these early years that Dmitry’s interest in combat sports began to flourish.
Inspired by Jackie Chan movies, he initially took up wushu when he was a small child before transitioning to boxing.
When Dmitry was six, his father took him to train in a boxing gym.
Recognising his son’s passion, Yuri took on the role of Dmitry’s first boxing mentor.
Create beautiful, classical boxing
Yuri Bivol
He accompanied him to training sessions and competitions, despite the family’s limited resources.
Equipment was expensive and hard to come by, so the young fighter wore ballet shoes to train and compete in.
Even so, he won his first 23 fights with his dad by his side at every tournament he entered.
Shaping a champion
Yuriy played a crucial role in developing Dmitry’s distinctive boxing style.
In an interview with Russian media, he recalled the advice he gave his young son: “I have always told my son, don’t show the spectators the snot, the blood, busted lips and nose.
“Create beautiful, classical boxing.”
This guidance would become the foundation of Dmitry’s elegant and effective fighting technique.
Sacrifices for success
In 2002, when Dmitry was 11 years old, the Bivol family made the life-changing decision to relocate to Russia.
This move was primarily motivated by the desire to provide Dmitry with better opportunities to develop his boxing skills and pursue his athletic dreams.
The transition to Saint Petersburg was not easy for the family.
They found themselves sharing a two-bedroom flat with nine people — a testament to the sacrifices they were willing to make for their son’s future.
Yuriy took on work as a shuttle bus driver to support the family financially, while Yelena focused on maintaining their home and helping with Dmitry’s training.
A rising star
As Dmitry’s boxing career began to take off, Yelena and Yuriy’s unwavering assistance became even more crucial.
Their son’s success in amateur competitions, including becoming a European school’s champion and twice winning the senior national championship by age 18, was a source of immense pride for the family.
The Bivols continued to make sacrifices to ensure Dmitry had access to the best training facilities and opportunities, even as their own living conditions remained modest.
In 2024, Dmitry is one of the world’s top boxers, holding the WBA light-heavyweight title and ranked among the best pound-for-pound fighters.
While he now trains in Southern California and competes on the world stage, Dmitry maintains close ties to his family and his roots in Saint Petersburg.
The values instilled by Yelena and Yuriy — perseverance, humility and dedication — continue to guide him in his professional career.