Dmitry Bivol is now preparing for the fight of his life against fellow light-heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev but, if Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh‘s plan plays out, his legacy-building won’t stop there.
The WBA 175 champion just stopped challenger Malik Zinad, a late replacement bout after the Beterbiev four-belter was postponed. With that now announced for October 12 in Riyadh, the man behind these big fights has also revealed two other names he’d like to see Bivol face.
Alalshikh has expressed an interest in Bivol then facing David Benavidez, the two-time undefeated super-middleweight champion who will make his light-heavy debut this month. A win will give Benavidez the WBC Interim title, making him one of the first in line for a shot at the winner of the undisputed clash in October.
Whether or not ‘The Mexican Monster’ wants to remain at 175 thereafter or return to 168 and continue to chase a fight against Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez remains to be seen.
The other man Alalshikh is keen for Bivol to test himself against is one Jai Opetaia, the current IBF Cruiserweight Champion who is coming off a second win over Mairis Briedis.
Bivol has previously expressed interest in a move up to 200lbs and there’s no fight better in the division than one against the aggressive Opetaia.
First up of course is the small matter of attempting to hand Artur Beterbiev his first loss to take his IBF, WBC and WBO belts. The postponement was due to Beterbiev rapturing his meniscus in training camp.
