Next month, boxing fans around the world will witness a historic showdown in Saudi Arabia as Dmitry Bivol steps into the ring for the biggest fight of his life. The WBA Light-Heavyweight Champion, who has dominated the division for years, will finally face off against the unbeaten Artur Beterbiev, the holder of the remaining three titles at 175 pounds. This long-awaited bout promises to determine the undisputed king of the light-heavyweight division—the first since the legendary Roy Jones Jr.
Dmitry Bivol has spent years proving himself as one of the elite fighters in the light-heavyweight division, defeating every challenger who dared to step in his way. Across from him, Artur Beterbiev boasts an equally impressive record, having knocked out every opponent he has faced. The stakes couldn’t be higher, as the winner of this matchup will claim all four major belts and cement their legacy as the undisputed champion.
If Bivol emerges victorious, another high-profile fight could be waiting in the wings. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, the unified super-middleweight champion, has expressed a strong desire for a rematch with Bivol. Canelo previously suffered only the second defeat of his career when he moved up in weight to challenge Bivol in 2022. Despite being pursued by the likes of David Benavidez and Terence Crawford, Canelo has made it clear that his top priority is another shot at the Russian champion.
In a recent interview with ESPN’s Mike Coppinger, Canelo emphasized that a second fight with Bivol is the only matchup that can further enhance his already remarkable legacy. He stated, “If Bivol beats Beterbiev on October 12, he’s the next fight I want.”
While the boxing world buzzes with talk of a potential rematch, Bivol remains laser-focused on his upcoming challenge. When asked about Canelo’s callout, Bivol told Boxing News that he’s not surprised by the Mexican star’s intentions, but his priority is winning against Beterbiev.
“I’m not thinking about the rematch right now. I have a training camp and the Beterbiev fight ahead of me. After that, we’ll see. If Canelo really wants to fight, he should talk to Eddie Hearn, not the media,” Bivol commented.
Despite the distractions, Bivol took time to praise Canelo’s recent performance against Edgar Berlanga. “It was a good fight. I didn’t watch it all, but from what I saw, Canelo’s skills were clearly superior to Berlanga’s, even though Berlanga is bigger.”
As October 12 approaches, the boxing world is holding its breath to see if Bivol can achieve what no other fighter has—lasting the full distance with Beterbiev and potentially handing him his first defeat. If Bivol’s elite skills prevail, it could not only make him the undisputed light-heavyweight champion but also set the stage for another blockbuster bout with Canelo Alvarez.
The fight is shaping up to be one of the most significant boxing events in recent history, with Bivol standing on the brink of greatness. Will he solidify his legacy, or will Beterbiev continue his reign of dominance? The world will find out soon enough.
