By Gerardo Romero
01 Jun 2024, 08:12 AM EDT
The renowned Russian boxer Dmitry Bivol left the doors open to a possible fight against the Mexican David Benavídez after the Aztec revealed that he will not wait for the fight he has wanted in recent years against Canelo Álvarez and will rise to 175 pounds to be able to fight for the titles of a new division.
On repeated occasions, David Benavídez has shown his firm desire to be able to face Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev, who are the current light heavyweight champions; Now in statements offered for Fight Hub, Bivol himself left the possibilities open and is willing to face the ‘Mexican Monster’.
“They have told me what (Benavidez) says. I haven’t seen his interviews, but I respect him as a fighter. He is a great fighter. What he says about him wanting to fight me and Beterbiev means that he is a great fighter, that he is confident and that he wants to achieve more and more. “That’s a good thing,” he said.
On June 15, Benavídez will have his first formal fight at 175 pounds against the Ukrainian Oleksandr Gvozdyk for the interim light heavyweight title of the World Boxing Council (WBC); Given this fact, Bivol considered that this is the best decision that the Mexican fighter could have made by putting aside Canelo Álvarez’s pursuit of him.
“I don’t know how things are between him and Canelo. He knows something and that’s why he decided to move up a division, and he is a big boy physically. It is a decision for him and his team, and I respect that decision. Maybe Canelo isn’t interested in fighting him, and why should I wait? He has to move on. No one can be waited that long, you have to create your own path and move forward,” added Bivol.
For now Dmitry Bivol will face the boxer Malik Zinad this Saturday, June 1, in what has become one of the most anticipated confrontations of the first half of 2024; Both fighters will fight for the IBO light heavyweight and WBA super light heavyweight world titles.
The duel will take place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and will last 12 rounds in which both fighters will give their best to take the belts.
Keep reading:
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–Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramírez leaves Golden Boy Promotions
–Dmitry Bivol rules out Canelo Álvarez and places Terence Crawford as the winner of their possible fight