In a quest to return to the ring, WBA light welterweight champion Dmitry Bivol sets his sights on a pre-January fight, leaving Artur Beterbiev skeptical of his intentions. After an extended hiatus due to a hand injury, Bivol is eager to face the winner of the Beterbiev vs. Callum Smith bout in January. To bolster his visibility, Bivol will be attending the Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou event in Saudi Arabia. While Bivol acknowledges that a rematch with Canelo Alvarez is unlikely, he remains confident in his skills and determined to secure a match against the Beterbiev vs. Smith victor. However, Beterbiev doubts Bivol’s seriousness, claiming that previous interest was never followed through. With the WBC showing no interest in sanctioning their bout and Beterbiev fearing the effects of age, the fate of this clash hangs in the balance.
WBA light welterweight champion Dmitry Bivol is itching to step back into the ring after being sidelined for almost a year due to a hand injury. The undefeated fighter is now on the hunt for potential opponents for his scheduled fight in December. Bivol, who last fought and defeated Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez in November, is looking to make a statement and secure a match against the winner of the Artur Beterbiev vs. Callum Smith fight in January.
To increase his visibility among top boxers, Bivol has decided to attend the upcoming Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou event in Saudi Arabia. It’s a smart move by Bivol, as being present at high-profile events can help him network and potentially line up big fights in the future.
While Bivol had hoped for a rematch with boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez, he understands that Alvarez has chosen a different path. Nevertheless, Bivol remains confident in his skills and is determined to win his upcoming fight to prove that he deserves a shot at the Beterbiev vs. Smith winner.
Speaking about events like Fury vs. Ngannou, Bivol agrees that they can be entertaining, but he emphasizes the importance of real boxing matches between top fighters. For the talented boxer, it’s all about showcasing his skills and proving himself against the best in the division.
Bivol is fully focused on his boxing career and believes that financial success will come hand in hand with his sporting achievements. He sees his potential match against Oleksandr Usyk in December as a tough fight for both of them, with the potential to be a thrilling showdown for fans.
On the other hand, Artur Beterbiev, the reigning IBF light heavyweight champion, doubts Bivol’s seriousness about wanting to face him for the undisputed championship. Beterbiev claims that Bivol had expressed interest in fighting him in the past but never followed through. He questions whether Bivol is just talking or genuinely interested in stepping into the ring with him.
Furthermore, there are complications surrounding the WBC sanctioning the Beterbiev-Bivol fight due to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. This adds another layer of uncertainty to whether this highly anticipated matchup will become a reality.
Beterbiev, who is preparing for his fight against Callum Smith on January 13th, cannot wait indefinitely to fight Bivol. He fears that age may catch up with him, and he might lose the opportunity to prove himself against Bivol. In his last bout, Beterbiev faced a tough challenge against Anthony Yarde, which showed his determination to keep his winning streak alive.
While it remains uncertain if Beterbiev’s promoter, Bob Arum, is interested in making the Beterbiev-Bivol fight happen, Beterbiev remains solely focused on winning Bivol’s belt and solidifying his dominance in the division.
Beterbiev attended the Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou fight in Saudi Arabia and drew comparisons to the highly-publicized Mayweather vs. McGregor bout. It seems that Beterbiev recognizes the spectacle these events create and understands the potential for big opportunities to arise from them.
Looking ahead to a potential matchup between Usyk and Fury, Beterbiev believes that the advantage will go to whoever is better prepared and in motion. It’s clear that Beterbiev is keeping a close eye on the division and is ready to take on any challenges that come his way.
As boxing fans, we can only hope that these talented fighters can overcome the obstacles in their paths and give us the thrilling matchups we crave.