Dmitry Bivol and David Benavidez may end up fighting next, but it won’t be on a Riyadh Season card.
Ring Magazine, which is owned by Riyadh Season head Turki Alalshikh, reported Friday that Alalshkih was “no longer interested” in the fight that was ordered by the WBC on Wednesday between undisputed champion Bivol and WBC interim champion Benavidez, stating that he will not be participating in the purse bid for that fight.
“I am no longer interested in Bivol-Benavidez and I will not bid on it,” Alalshikh said in a story on Ring’s website. “I think Bivol knows who has delivered for him and who hasn’t. My advice to Bivol: don’t be late because every day something changes.”
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The 34-year-old Bivol, 24-1 (12 KOs), has fought his last four fights in Riyadh, including his last two fights against Artur Beterbiev. Bivol avenged his majority decision loss to his Russian compatriot last month by the same verdict.
Afterwards, Alalshikh was seen raising three fingers, signaling that he intended to arrange a third fight between the two top 175-pounders.
Those plans were in contradiction with the WBC, which mandated Bivol to defend his belt against the 28-year-old Benavidez, 30-0 (24 KOs). Benavidez solidified his position as the interim champion last month when he dominated David Morrell to win a unanimous decision.
The WBC gave Bivol and Benavidez 30 days to negotiate, at which point a purse bid would be ordered on April 8. If Bivol decided to go in a different direction, the WBC would be within its rights to strip him of the belt and elevate Benavidez to full champion. That outcome would deprive Benavidez of the marquee matchup he has sought, however, having been denied in his attempts to lure Saul “Canelo” Alvarez into the ring for a fight at 168lbs.
Benavidez is represented by Sampson Lewkowicz and has built his career on Premier Boxing Champions cards, while Bivol is promoted by Matchroom Boxing.
Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing said this week that he had a “gut feeling” that a third Bivol-Beterbiev fight would come next, projecting that they would fight again towards the end of 2025.
