BoxRec

Eddie Hearn: Turki Alalshikh likely to want Bivol-Beterbiev III next

Eddie Hearn told Boxing Scene on Friday that reports of Matchroom and Premier Boxing Champions negotiating a fight between undisputed light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol and David Benavidez are “completely false.”

Although Bivol is a Matchroom fighter, the promoter said that the Russian’s next move “will be dictated by His Excellency [Turki Alalshikh], because he gave him all the opportunities. He fought Lyndon Arthur. He fought another defense over there against [Malik] Zinad, and then he fought Artur Beterbiev twice. Don’t forget, that first fight was razor thin, and Turki said, ‘I want to see that again.’ And to be fair to him, he made it happen in four months. Unbelievable. The second fight was also close, and I think he’ll say to Beterbiev that ‘You will get your shot.’”

Beterbiev, 21-1 (20 KOs), edged Bivol by majority decision in their first fight last October, before Bivol, 24-1 (12 KOs), gained revenge in the same fashion in February. Hearn thinks a decider would be the right way to go.

“They should run it back, because it’s a brilliant fight. We also love Benavidez against Bivol. But for me, it will be the trilogy next. The problem for Beterbiev is that Bivol is going to be better. So, we’re very confident going into that fight.”

A third Bivol-Beterbiev matchup could open an opportunity for another Matchroom light heavyweight, Callum Smith, to face Benavidez. Smith, 31-2 (22 KOs), impressively outpointed previously undefeated Joshua Buatsi in a grueling fight on the undercard of the Bivol-Beterbiev rematch to reestablish himself as a major player in the 175lbs division.

“We've had some conversations around Benavidez-Callum Smith, and around Callum Smith against [David] Morrell as well,” said Hearn. “I mean, Callum Smith's in a really good position. You know, he's mandatory [in the WBO rankings]. He won't be called just yet, but he's the interim world champion. Just had a great win against Buatsi. Unfortunately, when you become undisputed like Bivol, all of these mandatories swing around. They've got one with the IBF, they've got Benavidez, they've got Callum Smith. So yeah, I think the belts will free up over the next 12 months.”

What Turki wants. He will get.

Yeah I’d imagine this it the fight that makes the most money for everyone involved. As well as that they can hopefully stick a card on that is as similarly stacked as the 2nd fight.

That's them back in their boxes...

Wonder who will eventually usurp HE-Big-T? It will happen one day.

I'm not bothered about seeing a third.

Makes the most sense and money. I imagine one or both will retire after.

The third should probably happen I guesss… but I’d rather Bivol start defending the mandos, and beterb go to cruiserweight.

Bivol vs benevidez, then smith,

Buatsi vs yarde winner joins the line with morrel

Few 168s start moving up… berlanga, mung, diago (once he has had his canelo shot)… division could be flying.

And beterb could fight Jai opetia and/ or ramerez (then retire).

mickey1975 wrote: ↑15 Mar 2025, 14:50 I'm not bothered about seeing a third.

Agreed. Benavidez versus anybody is worth watching. Versus Bivol (or Beterbiev) would be electric.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑15 Mar 2025, 14:50 I'm not bothered about seeing a third.

same. it's a fight that takes it's toll on the viewers as well as the fighters. glad we got to see it though (TWICE)

BIVOL TO VACATE WBC TITLE, PLANS TO PROCEED WITH BETERBIEV TRILOGY FIGHT

Dmitry Bivol has informed the WBC he’s vacating his title ahead of tomorrow’s David Benavidez purse bid to proceed with the planned Artur Beterbiev trilogy fight, according to a letter obtained by The Ring.

Bivol won the undisputed light heavyweight championship in a rematch with Beterbiev in February in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The majority-decision victory evened the score in their series and exacted revenge for Bivol after Beterbiev defeated him via majority decision in October in Riyadh.

The second fight was far more entertaining than the first meeting, and afterward in the ring His Excellency Turki Alalshikh announced his intention to deliver the trilogy bout later this year.

Not interested. They should both move on. Read the room, Turki!

same for usyk-dub 2, not liking turki's love for rematches over fresh fights

It makes sense. But kinda sucks.

Bivol vs benividez

Bert vs Jai

Much better combo for fans.

It’s no longer an exciting match up, surely.

As it was, the rematch only fell into “interesting” category for me.

Bivol has the edge now. It’s done.

Kilburn wrote: ↑07 Apr 2025, 18:21 It’s no longer an exciting match up, surely.

As it was, the rematch only fell into “interesting” category for me.

Bivol has the edge now. It’s done.

Ok that’s a bit harsh for me…

I want something fresh cause this trilogy as a whole will likely retire bert and take years of bivol. But it’s still an epic fight.

But let’s remember it’s 1-1, two pound for pound guys, and both fights were close.

Bivol has already won this rivalry and he'll prove that on paper as well.

gregregegg wrote: ↑07 Apr 2025, 18:38

Kilburn wrote: ↑07 Apr 2025, 18:21 It’s no longer an exciting match up, surely.

As it was, the rematch only fell into “interesting” category for me.

Bivol has the edge now. It’s done.

Ok that’s a bit harsh for me…

I want something fresh cause this trilogy as a whole will likely retire bert and take years of bivol. But it’s still an epic fight.

But let’s remember it’s 1-1, two pound for pound guys, and both fights were close.

I get that a ton of people would love to see a third fight, and I certainly wouldn’t question anyone’s taste in match ups for wanting it to happen.

But for me I want some excitement for a top of the bill, something not so predicatable. Bivol v Beterbiev is about as easy to predict as you can get in terms of how they stack up against each other. Both are so technically sound, neither can really hurt the other.

We’ve seen 24 rounds of it I’m really not fussed about another 12.

Kilburn wrote: ↑08 Apr 2025, 01:38 I get that a ton of people would love to see a third fight...

Nah, you were right first time, I don't think the fights captured the imagination. Circa 400k bought the second fight worldwide. That pretty much means that nobody gives a sh*t. Turki has got this one wrong IMO.

Seeing the best versus the best is important but not at the expense of putting on the best fights, which is completely different. This is prizefighting, not the amateurs.

Two ATGs fighting is perfect for me. I had Bivol winning both. But these will always be close.

Kilburn wrote: ↑07 Apr 2025, 18:21 It’s no longer an exciting match up, surely.

As it was, the rematch only fell into “interesting” category for me.

Bivol has the edge now. It’s done.

agreed. Turki rerunning it hoping to see blood, and Bivol knocked out

Not at all interested in this plodding trilogy.

On Bivol’s WBC title being vacated for not fighting David Benavidez, who was elevated in his place
“Very straightforward. We have a contract and more importantly we gave our word that we will fight Beterbiev against. [Alalshikh] has done a tremendous job for Dmitry Bivol, we’ve had four fights in The Kingdom. When we lost a very close fight against Artur Beterbiev [Alalshikh] went out and made the rematch when he didn’t have to. And part of that deal was if we win there will be a third fight for Artur Beterbiev. So I was very surprised at the speed of the order.

“Don’t forget, Dmitry Bivol had only just won the WBC title. You always get grace as a champion. It wasn’t like this was ordered way back and Benavidez has been waiting, he only just beat Morrell and it’s like, right — boom — negotiations — boom — purse bid — boom — telling people the public offer.

“When has there ever been a time where someone from the organization is publicly telling about the offer Dmitry Bivol would receive. It’s quite bizarre, actually. And it’s like they’re trying to put pressure on him to take the [Benavidez] fight. The money’s nowhere near the money that he’s going to make to fight Beterbiev but it doesn’t matter if the offer was $20M, we have a contract and we always have our word which is our bond which we don’t ever go against.”

Dmitry Bivol hopeful that Artur Beterbiev rubber match happens in November or December

Undisputed light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol says he’s eager to break his tie with Artur Beterbiev – but that it might not happen until the end of the year.

Bivol told DAZN interviewer Claudia Trejos that he hopes their rubber match will take place in November or December.

Bivol had told reporters after their rematch in February, which he won by majority decision, that he needed some time to recover from injuries and had been able to get through training camp with the help of anti-inflammatories.

“I hope November-December, I will have a chance to have a fight,” said Bivol, 24-1 (12 KOs).

Bivol was in Saudi Arabia to watch the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs. William Scull undisputed super middleweight championship fight. Bivol, 34, rose to pound-for-pound prominence in 2022 by defeating Alvarez by unanimous decision. He says the secret to winning was that he believed in himself.

“I think I was just myself without fear because most of his opponents, they have fear, and they don’t do what they can do and they’re very tight mentally and the body, they don’t throw enough punches. This is the most important,” said Bivol.

WBO DENY CALLUM SMITH'S MANDATORY TITLE SHOT REQUEST FOR DMITRY BIVOL, ACCOMODATING ARTUR BETERBIEV TRILOGY

Callum Smith will be afforded a voluntary defence of his WBO interim light-heavyweight title, after it today emerged the sanctioning body denied a formal request to face unified WBA, IBF, WBO and Ring champion Dmitry Bivol next.

Three months after his excellent 12-round decision win over then-unbeaten interim titleholder Joshua Buatsi, the Liverpudlian won't be facing the man who topped the same bill against fierce rival Artur Beterbiev in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Smith (31-2, 22 KOs) contended, through Matchroom Boxing COO and general counsel Shaun Palmer, that his status as interim WBO titlist positioned him as the next mandatory challenger in line for Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs).

Although the logic was acknowledged, they dismissed it citing good cause as the reason with a proposed trilogy on the cards later this year. WBO championship committee chairman Luis Batista-Salas clarified their stance to all involved parties.

"Callum Smith, as WBO Interim Champion, maintains his status as the next in line for a mandatory defence. However, per Section 1 (B)(4), the Committee is empowered to extend the period for discharging a mandatory defence for good cause.

"The Committee finds that the anticipated Bivol/Beterbiev trilogy constitutes good cause to extend the mandatory defense period in the present circumstances. The Committee hereby denies the request to order a mandatory defense by Dmitry Bivol against Callum Smith at this time."

As reported by The Ring's Mike Coppinger last month, Bivol relinquished his undisputed championship status and vacated the WBC title ahead of a proposed David Benavidez purse bid to instead focus efforts on securing a much-anticipated Beterbiev trilogy.