Dmitry Bivol is set for the biggest fight of his life next month in Saudi Arabia.
The WBA Light-Heavyweight Champion has been one of two dominant forces in the division for some years now, beating every top contender who looks to challenge the throne. On the other side is Artur Beterbiev, who holds the remaining three titles and has knocked out each opponent he has faced.
The pair are finally set to battle it out for 175 supremacy, the winner becoming the first undisputed champion in the division since Roy Jones Jr.
Should Bivol win, he has been called out for a high-profile rematch by one Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, the current unified super-middleweight who tasted defeat for only the second time in his career when he moved up to challenge Bivol in 2022.
Canelo – who recently defended his belts with a routine victory over Edgar Berlanga – has stated that a second crack at the elite operator from Russia is the only match-up that will add to his already substantial legacy, despite being chased by the likes of David Benavidez and Terence Crawford.
He went one step further by telling ESPN’s Mike Coppinger that he want’s Bivol next if he gets past Beterbiev.
“When I spoke to Canelo yesterday he told me he wants Dmitry Bivol next providing he beats Artur Beterbiev on October 12.”
Bivol – who won the first match by unanimous decision with scores of 115-113, 115-113, 115-113 – has now responded to the callout via Boxing News.
“No I’m not surprised because he was mentioning it before. I don’t think about the rematch at all, I have my training camp and the Beterbiev fight and then we will see, it’s just talks, if he wants to do a fight he doesn’t need to talk to media he needs to talk to Eddie Hearn.”
Bivol went on to praise Canelo’s performance against Berlanga.
“It was good fight, I didn’t see it in full, but I saw a bit and he was good. Berlanga was bigger but Canelo’s boxing skills are better of course.”
All eyes remain focused on October 12 to see whether or not Bivol can use his elite skills to become not only the first man to last the distance with Beterbiev, but the first man to beat him.
