Benavidez confirms early talks with Team Bivol for 2026 clash

David Benavidez says his team has opened talks with Dmitry Bivol's camp about a potential showdown between the two heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight champions, though the fight is likely a year and a half away.

Benavidez, who stopped Gilberto Ramirez last weekend to claim WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles, told The Porter Way Podcast that negotiations are underway despite Bivol's IBF mandatory defense against Michael Eifert scheduled for May 30 in Russia. "We're already in talks with that," Benavidez said, per The Ring. "But first things first. We gotta see how he comes out, like if he comes out with any injuries."

Benavidez proposes 190-pound catchweight with all belts

The WBC heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight titleholder floated a 190-pound catchweight that would put both divisions' straps on the line. "Maybe we can do a catchweight at 190," he said. "We get the cruiserweight belts involved, we get the light heavyweight belts involved, and winner takes all." Benavidez weighed 196¾ for the Ramirez fight but insists dropping back to 175 is still possible if Bivol prefers that route.

Bivol, who holds The Ring magazine belt along with IBF, WBA and WBO straps at 175, was ordered by the WBC to face Benavidez early last year but vacated to pursue a third meeting with Artur Beterbiev. The Russian is reportedly recovering from back surgery that kept him out since August.

Benavidez had mentioned Mexican Independence Day weekend in September as a target date for his next appearance, but he now expects a Bivol meeting to land near the end of 2026 instead. "If I do end up fighting him, it's probably not gonna be until the end of the year," he said. "It won't be in September."

Source: ringmagazine.com