WBA Super light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol has been contacted about the possibility of facing Mexican star Canelo Alvarez after talks broke down for the pound-for-pound No.1’s projected, undisputed 168lbs title clash with Caleb Plant, according to the Russian’s promoter Andrey Ryabinskiy.
WBC, WBA Super and WBO super-middleweight champion Canelo had long seemed poised to face Nashville’s IBF title holder Plant on September 18 in Las Vegas before negotiations stalled earlier this week.
Canelo-Plant isn’t completely off the table yet, but now other options are being explored for the Mexican star with unbeaten Russian Bivol apparently at the front of the queue.
On paper at least, Canelo-Bivol seems a more competitive fight with the four-division champion pursuing either titles or the best challenges available. The Mexican previously stepped up to 175lbs to halt another Russian Sergey Kovalev in 11 rounds in November 2019.
“The fight has been mentioned to us, but we have not finalised any type of agreement,” Andrey Ryabinskiy, President of World of Boxing and Bivol’s promoter, confirmed to Sky Sports.
“We would be interested in the fight within adequate timelines. It’s a great test for Dmitry.”
Bivol (18-0, 11 KOs) was last seen outscoring Craig Richards at the Manchester Arena in May. One week later, Canelo (56-1-2, 38 KOs) forced an eighth-round retirement against Billy Joe Saunders in Arlington, Texas.