By Alexey Sukachev

In a non-title ten-round light heavyweight affair, Russian prodigy Dmitry Bivol was forced to go the distance for the second time in a row. WBA #1 Bivol, aged 25, effectively outboxed and outslugged durable Czech-based Ukrainian Evgueny Makhteyenko (8-6, 7 KOs) with identical scores: 100-90 - making it a clear sweep.

The fight crowned a night of boxing at the Rings Arena in Ekaterinburg, Russia, promoted by Sergey Trofimov of LTD RAT. Bivol is promoted, however, by a much bigger figure in Russian top boxing mastermind Andrey Ryabisnkiy.

Bivol started his career with six wins inside the distance, before scoring a tough unanimous decision over Felix Valera in May for the WBA Interim title.. He is 8-0, 6 KOs, now. Makhteyenko, 29, is best known for his upset wins over Alexander Hagen, Andrzej Soldra and Sven Formling.

In a co-feature, another World of Boxing protege Sergey Kuzmin (8-0, 5 KOs) dropped veteran American heavyweight Mike Sheppard (24-20-2, 10 KOs) twice before the stoppage in the very first round of the scheduled ten.

IN OTHER NEWS:  Undefeated French prospect Segolene Lefebvre will face her young careers biggest test on Friday November 4 when she fights former two-time world title-challenger Gabriella Mezei from Romania for the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) Womens Intercontinental Super Bantamweight title.

Staged at the compact Complexe Sportif Gayant in the city of Douai, Levebvre vs. Mezei is the main event of a show promoted by Douai Boxing Club and Rani Felouki, and the home-fighter from nearby Fourmies can expect great support from a sell-out crowd.

23-year-old Lefebvre made her professional debut in January of 2015, and has since compiled a 5-0 (0) record. In April of this year she captured the French national Super Featherweight title, but now she is moving down in weight in pursuit of Intercontinental honors.

Gabriella Mezei, while a year younger at twenty-two, is by far the more experienced of the two. Last December she traveled to France on very short notice to save the day, but lost a challenge for the WBF World Featherweight crown after a very competitive effort against Stepanie Ducastel.

Only this past July she fought Hungarian Renata Domsodi for the vacant WBF World Bantamweight title, losing a close decision, and her mediocre 7-6-2 (2) record does not do her justice. She is undoubtedly the sternest challenge yet for Lefebvre, and will come to win by all means.

A lot is at stake for these two women. Not only is the WBF Intercontinental title up for grabs, but a crack at the WBF World Super Bantamweight title could easily be in the not-too-distant future of the winner. Both are young, one is undefeated while the other has experience on her side. On paper a very intriguing match-up!