Dmitry Bivol focuses on Beterbiev, not a rematch with Canelo in 2023
Via Sean Jones: WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol let Canelo Alvarez know on Monday that he is not his first priority because he wants to fight for the undisputed 175th title in front of home. IBF/WBC/WBO Champion Artur Beterbiev.
If you were Canelo, he probably wouldn’t be too upset when he heard Bivol said he didn’t want to fight him. Canelo doesn’t have to worry about getting hit anymore.
Invincible knockout artist Beterbiev (18-0, 18 KOs) tied with a low-level match against Anthony Yarde on Jan. 28. After Beterbiev beats Yarde, he’ll have the month of Ramadan making him impossible compete until perhaps mid to late 2023.
The match against Canelo will once again put Bivol in a losing position in a controversial decision as you have to imagine that the Mexican star will host the match in one of his favorite venues.
Bivol may need a knockout to win, which is why it’s in his best interest not to think about a rematch. Why do it if there is a chance of a robbery?
Canelo has nothing Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) wants right now, as he was beaten by him at 175th place.
Whatever chance Canelo (58-2-2, 39 KOs) gets to rematch his former conqueror Bivol goes up in smoke when he makes it clear that a second matchup against him will played at 175, not 168.
In other words, Bivol will not contest Canelo’s super-middleweight title because the Mexican star wants the rematch to take place at 175th.
Bivol knocked out Canelo last May in a one-sided match that should have been 11-1 in favor of Dmitry. The referees of the Canelo-Bivol match gave Bivol 115-113, 115-113 and 115-113 unbelievable.
“I’m happy. Thank you guys,” Dmitry Bivol told fight TV center about his sudden popularity.
“I want to not be controversial. That’s my goal,“Bivol continued. “My priority is to fight for another belt,” Bivol said.
“Of course, it was a great fight. I want to fight for his belt, and I know he wants to fight too. It will be a great fight. He’s a tough opponent,” said Bivol.
Bivol said of Gilberto Ramirez: “It looks easy, but it was a tough fight.
Assuming Bivol defeats Beterbiev, he could go after the winner of the fight between Caleb Plant and David Benavidez. Since Canelo probably won’t want anything to do with Benavidez if he wins against Plant, Bivol can take on him.