Dmitry Bivol vs. John Ryder - December 2021?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Dmitry Bivol vs. John Ryder Could Be Explored, Says Eddie Hearn

Dmitry Bivol could next defend his WBA light heavyweight title against John Ryder after his hopes of facing Saul “Canelo” Alvarez were dashed.

The Russian had been put forward as an alternative opponent for Canelo when talks for an undisputed world super-middleweight title fight with Caleb Plant seemed to be going nowhere. But a deal was finally sealed last week for that fight to go ahead in November, leaving Bivol looking for another challenger.

It had been assumed that he would face Joshua Buatsi, but the South Londoner could be set to make a US debut before challenging for a world title in the Spring.

Ryder, 33, is in line to face David Morrell for WBA regular super-middleweight title, but Eddie Hearn has spoken to Ryder about the possibility of moving up in weight to face Bivol.

“I might put him in with John Ryder,” Hearn said. “He [Ryder] wants it. He is a super middleweight but is meant to fight Morrell for the world title, but that’s a tough fight, so why not fight Bivol.

“I think a lot of people feel Bivol is beatable right now, although he is still unbeaten.”

The winner of that fight would most likely face Buatsi early next year, with Hearn looking to stage the fight at the O2 Arena in London. Having had back-to-back training camps with Virgil Hunter in the Bay Area, Buatsi is having a one-month break but will box again this year.

“I think we are going to box Bivol in October and Josh will box in November or December, probably in America,” Hearn said. “After that, a world title fight in March – it’s the perfect O2 Arena fight, isn’t it?

“One thing for sure, if you win a world title in this division you have earned it. Beterbiev, Bivol and Joe Smith Jr - there are no poor champions.”

Bivol beat another British boxer, Craig Richards, in the last defense of his world title in Manchester in May. That was his first fight in 19 months.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I'd rather have Ryder fight Morrell

[maverick23]

I'd rather have Ryder fight Morrell

I think it’s equally a tough a fight, it’s not for a proper world title and he’d probably get less money for it than Bivol.

I’d rather he stayed at Super Middle though, get active (a fight with Eubank Jr if he wants to be a Super middle again or even Parker) and he can see what happens if and when the winner of Canelo/Plant vacates the proper belts.

[stujones]

If Ryder has ambition / belief he shouldn't go to light heavyweight.

[gregregegg]

If Ryder has ambition / belief he shouldn't go to light heavyweight.

Kinda true, but he should take this fight if he can. World title shot vs a champ who is not big at the weight and looked a bit average last fight. Bivol is good no doubt, but what shot does ryder have coming to him at 168 in the near future?

[Coco]

If Ryder has ambition / belief he shouldn't go to light heavyweight.

Kinda true, but he should take this fight if he can. World title shot vs a champ who is not big at the weight and looked a bit average last fight. Bivol is good no doubt, but what shot does ryder have coming to him at 168 in the near future?

You should never turn down a title fight

[peter barlow]

Pretty pointless fight for Bivol, considering he has Ryder then likely Buatsi.

Assuming Beterbiev, Kovalev, Ramirez etc aren't on the schedule

[margaret thatcher]

looks like bivol is playing the canelo waiting game

[Ruthless-RKO]

looks like bivol is playing the canelo waiting game

Yeh. Hearn has the names lined up for Bivol too.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Hearn's Plan For Bivol: Fight John Ryder In The UK In December, Then Face Canelo In May

Eddie Hearn can’t envision any scenario in which Caleb Plant will upset Canelo Alvarez on November 6 in Las Vegas.

The British promoter accordingly has mapped out a plan for Alvarez’s return to the ring after defeating Plant in their super middleweight title unification fight next month at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Hearn believes Alvarez – with whom his company, Matchroom Boxing, maintains a professional partnership – will want to conquer the light heavyweight division once he becomes the first fully unified 168-pound champion in the history of boxing’s four-belt era.

Hearn intends to help keep the unbeaten Bivol (18-0, 11 KOs) sharp by matching him against English southpaw John Ryder (30-5, 17 KOs), maybe at some point in December in the United Kingdom. He explained his blueprint for an Alvarez-Bivol bout during an appearance on the most recent episode of the “Boxing With Chris Mannix” podcast, which debuted Friday on The Volume.

“I think, right now, if I’m Dmitry Bivol,” Hearn said, “I’m saying, ‘Well, if Canelo beats Plant, what’s the next challenge? And the next challenge, in my mind, is for him to become undisputed at 175. So, Bivol would be the first stop. So, we’re looking at a fight between Dmitry Bivol and John Ryder, maybe in the UK. And then I’d like to try and make the fight with him against Canelo Alvarez in May.

“Now, we’ve also got Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith, who looked great last time out. So, we’ve got loads of options for Dmitry Bivol. Gilberto Ramirez is a good fight [for Bivol] as well, but I think, you know, the plan has got to be keep yourself bubbling for that Canelo Alvarez fight because you need to be available and you need to be ready.”

If the heavily favored Alvarez (56-1-2, 38 KOs) beats Las Vegas’ Plant (21-0, 12 KOs), the Mexican icon could pursue more business with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions, perhaps for fights against Jermall Charlo and/or David Benavidez. If Alvarez were to take either of those routes and stay at super middleweight, Hearn has an alternate plan for Russia’s Bivol, who has mentioned his desire to face Alvarez for a couple of years.

“You wouldn’t be sitting on the shelf,” Hearn explained. “You’d be fighting Callum Smith, you’d be fighting Joshua Buatsi. So, we would say, ‘You’ve got one fight in December or whatever, and you’re guaranteed to fight in March if you don’t get Canelo. But if you do, congratulations.’ And I think – I know that Bivol is really in the mind of Canelo Alvarez for the next challenge, which could be 175 pounds.”

An Alvarez-Bivol bout was discussed by their teams temporarily, when negotiations for Alvarez-Plant stalled during the summer.

Liverpool’s Smith (28-1, 20 KOs), a former WBA super middleweight champ, knocked Dominican veteran Lenin Castillo (21-4-1, 16 KOs) unconscious in the second round of his most recent bout, which took place September 25 at Tottenham Hotspur Arena in London. London’s Buatsi (15-0, 13 KOs) would take a steep leap in competition if he were to battle Bivol, who most recently edged England’s Craig Richards (16-2-1, 9 KOs) on points in their 12-round match May 1 at Manchester Arena in Manchester.

The 31-year-old Alvarez already has won a light heavyweight title. He gave up the WBO 175-pound crown he won by knocking out Sergey Kovalev (34-4-1, 29 KOs) in the 11th round of their November 2019 bout at MGM Grand Garden Arena without defending it, though.

[KiwiRider]

Pretty pointless fight for Bivol, considering he has Ryder then likely Buatsi.

Assuming Beterbiev, Kovalev, Ramirez etc aren't on the schedule

I don't think so Peter.
Ryder is a tough "Canelo sized" opponent, who can fight small and is a southpaw. Bivol would get a good workout. It's a stay busy that will definitely have its challenges.
As a fan I'm interested to see how Bivol handles a bloke like John Ryder.
It took a bit for Callum Smith to get a handle on him.
Heck, it could be a lot worse, couldn't it?

[JimJim2009]

Hearn's Plan For Bivol: Fight John Ryder In The UK In December, Then Face Canelo In May

Eddie Hearn can’t envision any scenario in which Caleb Plant will upset Canelo Alvarez on November 6 in Las Vegas.

The British promoter accordingly has mapped out a plan for Alvarez’s return to the ring after defeating Plant in their super middleweight title unification fight next month at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Hearn believes Alvarez – with whom his company, Matchroom Boxing, maintains a professional partnership – will want to conquer the light heavyweight division once he becomes the first fully unified 168-pound champion in the history of boxing’s four-belt era.

Hearn intends to help keep the unbeaten Bivol (18-0, 11 KOs) sharp by matching him against English southpaw John Ryder (30-5, 17 KOs), maybe at some point in December in the United Kingdom. He explained his blueprint for an Alvarez-Bivol bout during an appearance on the most recent episode of the “Boxing With Chris Mannix” podcast, which debuted Friday on The Volume.

“I think, right now, if I’m Dmitry Bivol,” Hearn said, “I’m saying, ‘Well, if Canelo beats Plant, what’s the next challenge? And the next challenge, in my mind, is for him to become undisputed at 175. So, Bivol would be the first stop. So, we’re looking at a fight between Dmitry Bivol and John Ryder, maybe in the UK. And then I’d like to try and make the fight with him against Canelo Alvarez in May.

“Now, we’ve also got Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith, who looked great last time out. So, we’ve got loads of options for Dmitry Bivol. Gilberto Ramirez is a good fight [for Bivol] as well, but I think, you know, the plan has got to be keep yourself bubbling for that Canelo Alvarez fight because you need to be available and you need to be ready.”

If the heavily favored Alvarez (56-1-2, 38 KOs) beats Las Vegas’ Plant (21-0, 12 KOs), the Mexican icon could pursue more business with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions, perhaps for fights against Jermall Charlo and/or David Benavidez. If Alvarez were to take either of those routes and stay at super middleweight, Hearn has an alternate plan for Russia’s Bivol, who has mentioned his desire to face Alvarez for a couple of years.

“You wouldn’t be sitting on the shelf,” Hearn explained. “You’d be fighting Callum Smith, you’d be fighting Joshua Buatsi. So, we would say, ‘You’ve got one fight in December or whatever, and you’re guaranteed to fight in March if you don’t get Canelo. But if you do, congratulations.’ And I think – I know that Bivol is really in the mind of Canelo Alvarez for the next challenge, which could be 175 pounds.”

An Alvarez-Bivol bout was discussed by their teams temporarily, when negotiations for Alvarez-Plant stalled during the summer.

Liverpool’s Smith (28-1, 20 KOs), a former WBA super middleweight champ, knocked Dominican veteran Lenin Castillo (21-4-1, 16 KOs) unconscious in the second round of his most recent bout, which took place September 25 at Tottenham Hotspur Arena in London. London’s Buatsi (15-0, 13 KOs) would take a steep leap in competition if he were to battle Bivol, who most recently edged England’s Craig Richards (16-2-1, 9 KOs) on points in their 12-round match May 1 at Manchester Arena in Manchester.

The 31-year-old Alvarez already has won a light heavyweight title. He gave up the WBO 175-pound crown he won by knocking out Sergey Kovalev (34-4-1, 29 KOs) in the 11th round of their November 2019 bout at MGM Grand Garden Arena without defending it, though.

Eddie, can you be a bit less obvious that you see your man Ryder as cannon fodder for Bivol while he awaits bigger things in 2022.

[brilo33]

all wrong for john i would of said 2 years ago, but going on recent fights ,even tho john aint been that active, i reckon john will give bivol a fight especially on in side funny but bivol has always fought big lads with reach , this could be an advantage for john ,gwan the gorrilla do it for islington