Russian WBA Super light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) claims that his priority next year is a fight with the holder of all other division titles compatriot Artur Beterbiev (18-0, 18 KOs), and not a rematch with the Mexican Saul Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs), whom he upset in May.
“First of all, I want to become the absolute world champion,”
He speaks Bivol. This is goal number 1. So my priority is to fight for other titles. I think we would have a great fight with Beterbiev. I would love to fight for his belts and I know he wants to fight me too. This is a great fight. And Arthur is a very difficult opponent.”
The fight Beterbiev vs Bivol is possible only in the second half of next year (and that is far from a fact). The unified champion will face his mandatory challenger Brit Anthony Yarde in January, and then make the traditional pause during Ramadan (until April 21).
It is possible that then other mandatory contenders will be imposed on Beterbiev – Briton Callum Smith (WBC) and / or the winner of the fight between Canadian Jean Pascal and German Michael Eifert (IBF). The IBF challenger is more likely to get an immediate fight, since Beterbiev has not yet made mandatory defenses through this organization.
In the meantime, Bivola is getting married to the Briton Joshua Buatsi or the same Smith. A little earlier, Dmitry said: “I don’t want to depend on Canelo’s decision.” At the beginning of the month, the Russian suddenly said: “I went through political pressure.”