WBA Light Heavyweight champion of the world Dmitry Bivol believes squaring off against unified titleholder Artur Beterbiev is a tougher challenge than going for another encounter against Canelo Alvarez.
Taking on Beterbiev over Canelo will be “different type of difficult” says Dmitry Bivol
After shocking the 168-pound undisputed champion back in May, Bivol is set to return on 5th November against another Mexican- the undefeated Gilbert Ramirez. After that fight, The Russian has two paths he can take.
The first is a unification fight with WBC, IBF and WBO titlist Artur Beterbiev for the undisputed 175-pound crown. The second is a rematch against Canelo, who recently said that he will be ready for Bivol next year if he wins against Ramirez in November.
While Bivol is not thumbing down the Canelo rematch, he feels that the first path – locking horns with his compatriot is riskier, but it also has the rewards to reap afterwards.
“To be honest, I want to fight for the other belts. But if [Canelo] wants to fight against me again then we can negotiate about it and if everything is okay for me for next fight, why not. But I am focused on Ramirez now. It is a really good opponent for me and I have to beat him to create plans after the fight,” Bivol said in a recent interview.
Going after Beterbiev will earn Bivol a shot at the undisputed crown at 174, which the 31-year-old once again emphasizes as being a different kind of difficult when compared to Canelo.
“It will be difficult but not much more. Just different type of difficult,” Bivol went on, “The fight against Canelo was difficult because no one believed in me except my team. Beterbiev is not as popular as Canelo so maybe that will be easier. But about boxing skills, about sizes, I think it will be more difficult.”
While Canelo had the option for an immediate rematch clause, he’s now moved on to a trilogy fight against longtime rival Gennadiy Golovkin later this month, citing which Bivol’s manager, Vadim Kornilov stated that they aren’t contractually tied to a rematch clause as Bivol also went for Ramirez.
“We are not really trapped into the rematch clause anymore, this is the fight now [against Ramirez] and the rematch will be negotiated, both guys went and took out a fight. Then we have to work together and figure out the next fight,” said Kornilov. [H/T BoxingScene.com]
