Beterbiev-Bivol III Could Head to Russia

A third fight between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol is being discussed, with Russia emerging as a potential host — a development that carries significant implications for David Benavidez, whose team has been targeting Bivol as their primary objective for the remainder of the year.

Bivol and Beterbiev have already met twice. Their first encounter went to Beterbiev before Bivol avenged the defeat with a majority decision win in February 2025 that handed him undisputed heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight status. A third fight would complete one of the sport's more compelling modern rivalries and settle the series definitively — but it would also close the door on Benavidez's most coveted target for as long as negotiations and the fight itself play out. Benavidez's camp has been direct about the pecking order.

"Their number one and two options are Bivol for the title and then Beterbiev if they can't get Bivol. But if they're fighting each other, then you move on to cruiserweight for the WBC belt," Sean Zittel.

The contingency plan has since been given a formal structure — the WBC has ordered Benavidez as the mandatory challenger for cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian, providing an alternative world title route should both major light heavyweight matchups remain unavailable.

The Saudi preference for hosting major boxing events has been the assumed backdrop for most high-profile fights in recent years, making the Russia possibility a notable departure from that pattern. Whether it materialises depends on the commercial and political landscape surrounding both fighters.