Dmitry Bivol and David Benavidez are reportedly close to agreeing a deal to fight next.
Bivol is the reigning undisputed light-heavyweight champion following his victory over Artur Beterbiev in February, gaining revenge after Beterbiev had won their first meeting back in October.
It was thought that a trilogy contest could come next, but instead it appears that undefeated sensation Benavidez will be the next challenger for the Russian.
Benavidez is the current WBC interim champion at 175lbs, and became mandatory for the WBC title after defeating David Morrell by unanimous decision last month and the WBC has now ordered Bivol to defend his title against the Mexican next.
The clash between Bivol and Benavidez is an intriguing match-up, especially as the two men have sparred together in the past.
One man who has witnessed those spars is film director Peter Berg, who alongside Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing runs the Churchill Boxing Club in Los Angeles.
Berg was a recent guest on The Joe Rogan Experience, initially claiming that he saw Bivol drop Benavidez with a jab.
“The hardest punch I’ve ever seen anybody throw in my life was in our gym. David Benavidez was sparring Bivol and Bivol caught him and dropped him with a jab in sparring.”
Berg then clarified on social media that he got the story wrong, and it was instead ‘The Mexican Monster’ that got the knockdown.
“I have to retract something that I said because I was wrong. I don’t know why I remembered it wrong but I did, and I suspected actually when I was saying it that I was wrong, but it was Benavidez that dropped Bivol, straight up, with an incredible jab.”
Time will tell if Benavidez can repeat that success inside the professional ring, and Canelo Alvarez has given his prediction for the match-up.
