The war before the clock
Beterbiev’s toughest fights lately haven’t been against opponents. They were against the grind of the gym. His recent history is a checklist of training setbacks, from knee surgery to rib and shoulder problems. Those patterns carry a lot of weight when you’re over 40. There are no reports of a new injury, but that’s not the point. The workload itself is the enemy.
Beterbiev does not do “easy” camps. His game is built on strength and relentless repetition, which means months of brutal preparation. At this point, shortcuts or late adjustments are not an option. Every week in the gym is a gamble.
The trilogy with Bivol is still the goal, but Beterbiev is a passenger in that deal. Bivol is currently rehabilitating from back surgery and first has to deal with a mandatory IBF against Michael Eifert. That path likely pushes a third fight to late 2026. Then there’s David Benavidez.
Although a massive name, Benavidez sees a jump to cruiserweight to face Zurdo Ramirez in May. If he ends up circling back to Beterbiev, it means the 41-year-old must survive a grueling build-up against a younger, high-volume engine. There is no low stress way back. The names change, but the physical toll does not.
Beterbiev has been a free agent since mid-2025. On paper it gives him freedom. In reality, the clock is the one in control. Every month without a fight makes the next camp harder and the margin for error thinner.
When he finally does return, the conversation will be about his power and his place in the division. But the real answer will have been decided in private, long before the lights go on. The question is not what he has left in his hands. It’s whether his body could get him to the ring at all.
