Prominent boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has announced that Dmitry Bivol is all set to defend his WBA light heavyweight title this December, with the exact date being either the 2nd or the 9th. After a ten-month hiatus due to injury, Bivol, with an impressive record of 21-0 and 11 KOs, is gearing up for a comeback. While fans eagerly await the reveal of his opponent, Hearn has clarified that it won't be the reigning IBF/WBC/WBO light heavyweight champion, Artur Beterbiev, who has his hands full with a defense against Callum Smith.
Bivol had earlier expressed his desire for a rematch against boxing sensation Canelo Alvarez. However, talks never progressed. It's speculated that Canelo was hesitant to risk his undisputed super middleweight championship. A loss would strip Canelo of all his titles and leave little room for any excuses, especially after their initial bout at 175. Notably, Bivol has shown interest in squaring off against Jermell Charlo, should he come out on top against Canelo on September 30th. However, even if Charlo was open to the idea, a rematch clause with Canelo might be a stumbling block.
Several fighters are being considered as Bivol's potential opponents for his December bout. The list includes big names like Joshua Buatsi, Dan Azeez, Anthony Yarde, Richard Rivera, Oleksandr Gvozdyk, Lyndon Arthur, Craig Richards, and Andre Dirrell. Yet, with Eddie Hearn at the helm, fans should be ready for unexpected matchups. For instance, a fight with super middleweight John “The Gorilla” Ryder, despite his recent loss to Canelo, might intrigue British fans but would raise eyebrows in the U.S.
Lastly, while Oleksandr Gvozyk, the former WBC light heavyweight champion, seems like a strong contender for Bivol, he might need more time in the ring. Coming out of a four-year retirement, with only two fights since, Gvozyk might find Bivol to be a challenging adversary soon.
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