Dmitry Bivol vs Artur Beterbiev undisputed showdown set for Saudi
According to Dan Rafael, Dmitry Bivol vs Artur Beterbiev has been signed for 2024 and will take place in Saudi Arabia.
However, the unified WBC, IBF, WBO and lineal light-heavyweight titlist, Beterbiev, has to get past the tough challenge that lies in wait on January 13, in the form of Briton Callum Smith.
The WBA light-heavyweight champ, Bivol, ended a 13-month layoff on December 23, with a unanimous decision win – scored 120-107 – over tough Brit, Lyndon Arthur, who was dropped in the 11th round.
Bivol has reportedly signed the contracts to fight long-standing rival Beterbiev next. Artur's promoter Bob Arum met with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh when they were together in Riydah for the Day of Reckoning card.
Canadian-based Russian, Beterbiev, is the only reigning world champion with a 100% KO record. He’s unbeaten in eight world championship contests (five were unified), 14 title fights, and 19 professional bouts. He has defended his world titles on seven occasions and won the lineal championship when he knocked out Oleksandr Gvozdyk in the 10th round in 2019.
In his last fight, in January 2023, he stopped Anthony Yarde in the eighth round in London and immediately called for Bivol after the win, "I want Bivol right now, it's everything," he declared. "In that fight, we'll have four belts. It's a really good fight, I think."
Bivol, 33, also echoed the desire to meet, "It's a big goal and when we signed the contract we discussed not only fighting against Lyndon Arthur, we discussed about another fight too for four belts. We discussed undisputed. [The Saudis] want to make this fight and they can make this fight. This is really good for me. It's what I need."
He reiterated his ambitions straight after his one-sided triumph over Arthur, "Now I see my way to my goal to undisputed against the winner of Beterbiev-Smith. I hope this fight will happen in 2024; next fight."
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