Dmitry Bivol’s dream of becoming undisputed light heavyweight champion of the world will be blocked by the WBC due to his status as a Russian national.
The four belt clash is regarded as one of the best boxing can offer in its current state, and has a time limit on it given the unified champion, Artur Beterbiev, is now 38-years-old. Bivol, who holds the WBA belt, is 32.
Despite its intrigue and potential legacy, WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman told Izquierado that he would not sanction the fight.
“The WBC cannot sanction a fight with Bivol in it. That is because of our position with Russia [and the war with Ukraine]. WBC would not accept that fight.”
“As of today, that is the position of the WBC. As long as there is no boxing in Ukraine, we will not accept boxing in Russia. At least, not sanctioned by the WBC. At this moment, [our ruling is] that Beterbiev has to fight with his WBC mandatory rival, Callum Smith.”
The WBC made its decision to remove Russian fighters from the rankings in 2022 during the nation’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine. The sanctioning body’s reigning light heavyweight champion, Beterbiev, is also Russian but exempt due to holding a Canadian passport.
Bivol, who currently resides in California, has other, big-money plans to tide him over. He’s said to be willing to rematch Saul ‘Canelo’ Álvarez after a victory over the Mexican last year saw him win Fighter of the Year for many publications. Having said that, both men are refusing to budge on what weight the fight should land at.
Beterbiev, as Sulaiman points out, has been ordered to make a mandatory defence against Britain’s Callum Smith. The teams have until April 11 to reach a deal or purse bids will be called.