WBA world light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol (21-0, 11KOs) is yet to return to the ring following his convincing and dominant points victory over Gilberto Ramirez (44-1, 30KOs) in November of last year. 2022 was overall a fantastic year for Bivol, with a famous and a betting upset victory over undisputed super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez, in May of the previous year in one of the most impressive performances against the Mexican kingpin.
Bivol has reiterated his desire to face the current WBO, WBC & IBF world light-heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev when speaking to Anson Wainwright of Ring.TV. Bivol would welcome the opportunity to meet Beterbiev stating this his goal for this year is to become the undisputed champion at 175lbs.
“I have been telling my team, I want to face [Artur] Beterbiev (19-0 19KOs) next,” Bivol told The Ring through manager Vadim Kornilov. “My goal is unification fights this year!”
“I saw some parts of the fight (Beterbiev-Yarde). It was a good fight, and both boxers showed toughness and determination.”
The WBC recently ordered Beterbiev to fulfil his mandatory obligations and must face Callum Smith, making an immediate prospect of a contest between Bivol and Beterbiev very unlikely.
Bivol’s manager, Vadim Kornilov, aims for Bivol to return to the ring in the summer of this year and hopes for an undisputed showdown later this year, like his client,
“We are focused on getting Dmitry back in the ring in June and there are a couple of opponent options,” explained Kornilov. “After that, we will hope that everything aligns for the Beterbiev fight for [the] undisputed [championship]. That is the biggest matchup out there right now, two undefeated boxers, both on the pound-for-pound list.”
Kornilov also cannot rule out the possibility of a Canelo (58-2 39KOs) rematch, insisting that Promoter Eddie Hearn & broadcaster DAZN seek to explore that rematch possibility.
“I do believe that [Promoter] Eddie [Hearn], the fans and DAZN want the rematch,” he said. “There is no doubt this fight is attractive, as this is a fight Canelo clearly lost by majority of the rounds. I am sure Canelo personally wants revenge as well. At the same time, I don’t think Canelo’s team wants this fight, and everything will be done to try to avoid this rematch and I don’t blame them.
“Canelo has said in the press that he only lost by a couple of rounds in the fight, then he said he wanted to fight Dmitry next in May and now he is all in. At the end of the day, actions speak louder than words.”
