Dmitriy Bivol has seemingly put a pin in the chances of a rematch with Canelo Alvarez taking place later this year, stating negotiations for the fight are “nowhere” currently.
Many had viewed the Bivol rematch as a frontrunner for the Mexican’s next fight, with the likes of Eddie Hearn repeatedly mentioning the Russian as the man Canelo wanted to take on.
However, in recent weeks it has become apparent that a dispute over what weight class a second fight should take place at has proved to be a significant stumbling block.
Bivol shared his thoughts in a recent interview with Boxing Social.
“We are nowhere with the fight against Canelo to be honest. This is why I don’t like to talk about it.
I think about my own way. He says he wants a rematch. You want a rematch, but then do nothing?
He wants just another chance to get my belt, but he doesn’t want to risk his belt.”
He went on say the only chance of a rematch at 175lbs is if he has ‘zero’ other options.
“Just small chance to fight him again at 175, only if I don’t have any other options, just zero.”
Bivol handed Canelo his first defeat in almost a decade last May, when he soundly outpointed him to retain his WBA light heavyweight world title.
The Russian’s manager even claimed that the victory was so convincing, he does not believe Canelo’s team want the fight at all.
“They don’t want to fight at either weight class, because he will lose. If he wanted to fight him at either weight class, we would be talking right now about the fight.
Eddie Reynoso wouldn’t be talking to Charlo or Benavidez. If the Bivol fight was the fight they wanted, they would only be focused on that fight, they wouldn’t be shopping around.
They know they lost the fight heavily – they don’t want the fight.”
Bivol has made it clear he wants to become undisputed against Beterbiev but the unified champion’s promoter, Bob Arum, has ruled out that fight whilst the WBC has sanctions against Russian fighters.