Bivol Aiming For Undisputed Fight With Beterbiev

Dmitry Bivol, the WBA light heavyweight champion, is eyeing an undisputed fight with Artur Beterbiev, provided he gets past Lyndon Arthur.
Bivol faces the Brit in the ‘Day of Reckoning’ Saudi card on December 23rd, 2023. This will be Bivol’s 11th defense of his title as a victory takes him a step to closer to becoming undisputed. Beterbiev holds the WBC, WBO and IBF belts as he faces Callum Smith on January 13th, 2024. While the Arthur fight was seen as a surprise choice of opponent, Bivol made it clear that his decision to take the fight was based keeping Beterbiev in his thinking.
Bivol On Beterbiev
“When I signed the contract with the Saudis for Lyndon Arthur, it wasn’t the main thing that they wanted. They want to make the undisputed fight in the light heavyweight division, and this is why I’m here. I hope that I win this fight, and my name fight will be for the undisputed in my weight class [175], not at super middleweight because the subject with Canelo is closed. I have my own way,” Bivol said
Both boxers must come through their next fights. Bivol has not fought in around a year since he beat Zurdo Ramirez via a unanimous decision. Before that, Bivol came off the biggest win of his career against Canelo Alvarez. Since then, the Russians have struggled to get an opponent.
The rematch with Canelo failed as both men disagreed over the weight class. Canelo wanted to fight at 175 pounds, while Bivol wanted the rematch at 168 so he could fight for his undisputed title. A hand injury also prevented Bivol from returning to the ring as he lost the momentum he had gained. Although the goal of undisputed at 175 is the priority, Bivol is still willing to fight at 168 for a belt.
Bivol On Canelo
“I’m not a big light heavyweight. You saw in my past light heavyweight opponents, I’m not bigger than them. I can make 168, but only for a belt and nothing else. Canelo has four belts, and this is why I wanted to fight him. Now, we have our way. Right now, I’m focused on Lyndon Arthur first and then on my goal of becoming light heavyweight division. This is more realistic than other fights,” Bivol stated
Arthur will be no pushover. Since he was knocked out by Anthony Yarde in the fourth round in 2021, the boxer has bounced back with four wins on the bounce. Though the victories were against domestic-level opposition, Arthur knows he is one fight away from potentially fighting for undisputed.
That makes Arthur a dangerous opponent since he has caused upsets, namely when he first beat Yarde. The chance to secure a rematch and another big payday will also be a driving factor. So, all eyes will be on whether Bivol comes through with a win against Arthur.
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