Beterbiev Says Bivol Trilogy Comes Before Benavidez

Artur Beterbiev wants Dmitry Bivol one more time — and he is not interested in discussing anything else until that fight is made.

The former undisputed heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight champion has made his position clear, insisting a trilogy with Bivol takes priority over the growing interest in a matchup with three-division world champion David Benavidez. The two former champions are level at one win apiece from two closely contested championship fights, but Beterbiev believes the record should look different.

"I really want the rubber match. I think everyone wants the rubber match, and I feel good. If you want to check if I'm good or not, make this fight happen, and I will show you. I believe I won the second fight better than the first one. For sure, the third fight is going to happen and I'll do better than both of them. I'm expecting the third fight to happen in minimum five or six months, but he doesn't want to fight,” Beterbiev

Bivol currently holds the Ring, WBA, IBF and WBO light heavyweight titles following his victory over Michael Eifert on May 30 in Ekaterinburg, Russia. The full collection of belts gives him leverage in determining when and against whom the third Beterbiev fight happens — and Beterbiev's public complaint that Bivol is reluctant to commit suggests negotiations are not moving at the pace the challenger would prefer.

At 41, Beterbiev does not have the luxury of an open timeline. Five or six months puts a trilogy fight in late 2026 or early 2027, which is achievable. Further delays begin to raise questions about whether the window closes before the fight can be made.

The Benavidez angle is real but secondary. Interest in a cross-divisional fight between the two has grown since Benavidez's third-division title claim over Gilberto Ramirez at cruiserweight in May.

"I respect what Benavidez did already in boxing. He became a three-category world champion, and I'm not avoiding fights with Benavidez or someone else. First, I'm more focused to do the rubber match," Beterbiev

First, Bivol has to agree to fight him. And according to Beterbiev, that part is proving more difficult than it should.