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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.”

Golpe a David Benavidez! Turki Al-Sheikh le cierra la puerta para retar a  Bivol | MARCA México

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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.

The WBC has ordered Dmitry Bivol to box David Benavidez next, in a potential blow for fans wishing to see a trilogy fight against Artur Beterbiev.

Bivol lost a majority decision to Beterbiev in October, as the latter became undisputed light-heavyweight champion and handed Bivol his first pro defeat. However, Bivol reversed the result in February, taking all the belts from his fellow part-Russian and similarly dealing Beterbiev his first pro loss.

Many fans have expressed a desire to see Bivol vs Beterbiev 3 next, but Benavidez’s recent move to light-heavyweight seemed a potential complication in the title picture. And it could prove exactly that, with the WBC – per multiple reports – now ordering Bivol to fight the American, who holds the organisation’s interim title.

Dmitry Bivol (left) outpointed Artur Beterbiev with an inspired performance in February

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A negotiation period will run until 8 April, so it is still possible that Bivol, 34, will fight Beterbiev, 40, next. However, Benavidez is seemingly edging closer to a shot at an official light-heavyweight title.

The unbeaten 28-year-old made his name at super-middleweight and is open to returning to that division, where unified champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has been accused of avoiding him. However, Benavidez would likely only drop back down for a bout with Canelo, who is due to box Terence Crawford in a somewhat contrived super-fight in September.

Fans have accused Canelo of ‘ducking’ David Benavidez (pictured)

In June 2024, Benavidez moved up to light-heavyweight and outpointed Oleksandr Gvozdyk to claim the WBC interim belt. Then, in February, he beat David Morrell Jr on points to retain the title.

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