Dmitry Bivol Names Beterbiev, Canelo and Benavidez but Will Not Pick a Date
Dmitry Bivol says he wants the three biggest fights in boxing but is in no rush to lock any of them down.
Dmitry Bivol knows exactly who he wants. He just will not say when.
Appearing on Inside the Ring, Bivol named Artur Beterbiev, Canelo Alvarez and David Benavidez as his top three targets. "This is Beterbiev, this is Canelo, and this is Benavidez," he said. "Three most big fights, I think, for me now."
The Beterbiev situation is the most obvious. The two have split their previous bouts, making a rubber match one of the most compelling fights in boxing. Bivol said he would accept completing the trilogy by May if all sides can agree, but noted that past negotiations have stalled repeatedly.
A Canelo rematch carries financial appeal. Bivol won their first meeting and a second fight would be one of the biggest paydays available at 168 or 175 pounds.
Benavidez is the wild card. The cruiserweight contender is calling out everyone from Opetaia to Usyk, and a fight with Bivol at a catchweight or cruiserweight could make sense down the line.
Bivol also acknowledged that his recent back surgery has changed how he trains. He needs to be more strategic with his preparation and cannot afford to rush into camps the way he used to.
For now, Bivol's next confirmed action is a fight against Callum Smith, per Boxing News 24. Everything else remains talk.
Bivol is in a weird spot. He has name recognition, a win over Canelo, and an unresolved trilogy with Beterbiev. On paper, he should be the most in-demand fighter at 175 pounds. But the longer he waits to commit to one of these fights, the more the division moves on without him.
The back surgery is a legitimate concern. I am not going to question a fighter for being cautious about his health. But there is a fine line between being smart and letting the moment pass. Beterbiev is getting older. Canelo has other options. Benavidez is building momentum. All three of those fights are more valuable today than they will be in 18 months.
Get the Callum Smith fight done and then pick one of the big three. The fans are waiting, the money is there, and the legacy fights do not stay on the table forever.
