Dmitry Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) may not be thrilled about the prospect of facing Jaime Munguia (41-0, 33 KOs) this summer, but he’s willing to step into the ring with him if Artur Beterbiev or Canelo Alvarez are unavailable. Although Munguia would likely struggle against Bivol, his performance might not be any worse than Canelo’s and Gilberto Ramirez’s past encounters with the Russian boxer. Despite potential criticism, Bivol would at least maintain his activity in the ring.
A rematch with Canelo is a tempting option for Bivol, but he insists on holding the fight at the 168-pound weight class. Unfortunately, it appears unlikely that Canelo will agree to this stipulation. The Mexican superstar prefers the rematch to occur at 175 pounds, the same weight as their previous bout, to avoid backlash from fans for forcing Bivol to drop down a weight class.
If an agreement with Canelo falls through, Bivol’s sights are set on a showdown with IBF/WBC/WBO light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev for the undisputed 175-pound championship. However, Bivol must first navigate his WBC-ordered fight against mandatory challenger Callum Smith.
Bivol’s manager, Vadim Kornilov, revealed that they had explored the possibility of a Beterbiev bout, but the financial terms failed to match the magnitude of the fight. As the boxing world watches with anticipation, the final decision on Bivol’s next opponent will have far-reaching implications for the light heavyweight division.
Image Credit: ESPN