Artur Beterbiev handed blow as Dmitry Bivol ‘closes in on agreement’ with Canelo Alvarez’s rival
Dmitry Bivol is reportedly finalising a deal to face David Benavidez later this year. The Russian superstar avenged his loss to Artur Beterbiev last month to lay claim to the undisputed light heavyweight titles. Bivol and Beterbiev are tied at 1-1 after two fightsGETTY Beterbiev won their inaugural encounter via majority decision before Bivol levelled the tally with a majority decision of his own. Given the competitive nature of both their fights, a rubber match was expected to follow. However, the WBC has forced Bivol’s hand by ordering a mandatory fight with Benavidez. A deadline of April 8 has been set before a purse bid is called. But according to ESPN Knockout, Bivol’s promoter Matchroom and Premier Boxing Champions (PBC), who represent Benavidez, are ‘very close’ to reaching an agreement already. Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh had previously expressed interest in bidding on the bout, although he has since changed his mind. “I am no longer interested in Bivol-Benavidez and I will not bid on it,” Alalshikh told Ring Magazine last week. “I think Bivol knows who has delivered for him and who hasn’t. “My advice to Bivol: don’t be late because every day something changes.” The Chairman of Saudi Arabia‘s General Entertainment Authority had promised Beterbiev a trilogy with Bivol next, while it remains unclear whether the Russian puncher has exercised his right for a third fight. GettyBenavidez has been ordered by the WBC to face Bivol next, leaving Beterbiev out in the cold[/caption] talkSPORT BET: Latest Cheltenham Festival odds and free bet offers Benavidez (30-0) spent a considerable stretch as Canelo Alvarez‘s No.1 contender at super middleweight but moved up to light heavyweight after growing tired of waiting for his shot at 168lbs. In June 2024, he defeated Oleksandr Gvozdyk for the WBC ‘interim’ light heavyweight belt before further cementing his status as the major sanctioning body’s mandatory by overcoming David Morrell last February. Prior to his move up in weight, Benavidez’s promoter Sampson Lewkowicz, had claimed in a now-deleted tweet that Al Haymon’s PBC had made a $55million (£43m) offer for the Canelo fight last May. Canelo’s trainer and manager Eddy Reynoso denied any such proposal was made, while his client went on to face Jaime Munguia instead. The decision angered Benavidez, who took to social media to write: “If I have nothing to offer then why are you demanding $150-200million to fight someone who isn’t worth anything? “Hopefully after you make that $150million you have enough left over to buy a pair of nuts.” Benavidez moved up to light heavyweight after failing to land a fight with Canelo at 168lbsEd Mulholland/Matchroom Benavidez was making reference to Canelo shrugging off their fight, by insisting he would need a guaranteed purse of between $150million (£117m) and $200m (£156m) to face ‘The Mexican Monster’. The pair haven’t seen eye to eye since. Follow talkBOXING on social media talkBOXING is now on Twitter and Facebook. Follow us on social media for big breaking boxing news, exclusive interviews and the best bits from our talkBOXING YouTube show. Like our Facebook page HERE Follow us on Twitter HERE Sign up for our WhatsApp channel HERE
Dmitry Bivol is reportedly finalising a deal to face David Benavidez later this year.
The Russian superstar avenged his loss to Artur Beterbiev last month to lay claim to the undisputed light heavyweight titles.
Beterbiev won their inaugural encounter via majority decision before Bivol levelled the tally with a majority decision of his own.
Given the competitive nature of both their fights, a rubber match was expected to follow.
However, the WBC has forced Bivol’s hand by ordering a mandatory fight with Benavidez.
A deadline of April 8 has been set before a purse bid is called.
But according to ESPN Knockout, Bivol’s promoter Matchroom and Premier Boxing Champions (PBC), who represent Benavidez, are ‘very close’ to reaching an agreement already.
Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh had previously expressed interest in bidding on the bout, although he has since changed his mind.
“I am no longer interested in Bivol-Benavidez and I will not bid on it,” Alalshikh told Ring Magazine last week.
“I think Bivol knows who has delivered for him and who hasn’t.
“My advice to Bivol: don’t be late because every day something changes.”
The Chairman of Saudi Arabia‘s General Entertainment Authority had promised Beterbiev a trilogy with Bivol next, while it remains unclear whether the Russian puncher has exercised his right for a third fight.
talkSPORT BET: Latest Cheltenham Festival odds and free bet offers
Benavidez (30-0) spent a considerable stretch as Canelo Alvarez‘s No.1 contender at super middleweight but moved up to light heavyweight after growing tired of waiting for his shot at 168lbs.
In June 2024, he defeated Oleksandr Gvozdyk for the WBC ‘interim’ light heavyweight belt before further cementing his status as the major sanctioning body’s mandatory by overcoming David Morrell last February.
Prior to his move up in weight, Benavidez’s promoter Sampson Lewkowicz, had claimed in a now-deleted tweet that Al Haymon’s PBC had made a $55million (£43m) offer for the Canelo fight last May.
Canelo’s trainer and manager Eddy Reynoso denied any such proposal was made, while his client went on to face Jaime Munguia instead.
The decision angered Benavidez, who took to social media to write: “If I have nothing to offer then why are you demanding $150-200million to fight someone who isn’t worth anything?
“Hopefully after you make that $150million you have enough left over to buy a pair of nuts.”
Benavidez was making reference to Canelo shrugging off their fight, by insisting he would need a guaranteed purse of between $150million (£117m) and $200m (£156m) to face ‘The Mexican Monster’.
The pair haven’t seen eye to eye since.
