Dmitry Bivol was many people’s Fighter of the Year in 2022 following impressive victories over Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Gilberto Ramírez. He has yet to fight in 2023, but promoter Eddie Hearn has said that negotiations to fight a Brit are ongoing.
That potential opponent is ‘Super’ Dan Azeez, the fast-rising British light-heavyweight and current Commonwealth and European champion.
Although reports broke recently that the WBA had ordered their number two ranked light heavyweight, Azeez, to fight their number one, Joshua Buatsi, Hearn says Matchroom has spoken to Azeez and that he has “not yet agreed” to fight Buatsi.
Speaking to Boxing News, he also claimed that Azeez would rather swerve a mandatory fight and go straight into the ring with the current WBA light heavyweight champion Bivol, who has held that title since 2017.
“So Bivol, I think, will fight Dan Azeez, hopefully, if we can get the deal over the line, and those negotiations are ongoing. And then we’ll fight the winner of [Callum] Smith against [Artur] Beterbiev and then, after that, Canelo Alvarez could fight him for undisputed at 175.”
“[Azeez] would obviously much rather go straight into a Dmitry Bivol fight than have to fight an eliminator.”
Hearn went on to admit that Bivol has rather been treading water since his points win over Canelo and a unanimous decision victory over ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez back in November, saying that is partly down to injury.
The promoter said he was interested in legacy only, and has an eye on the winner of Artur Beterbiev versus Callum Smith.
If Smith, who is also promoted by Hearn, beats Beterbiev in August, it’s likely that fight would be on the horizon for Bivol with little fuss.