Eddie Hearn on Dmitry Bivol's Potential Opponents: Canelo, Benavidez, Beterbiev.
In the high-stakes chess match that is modern boxing promotion, Eddie Hearn has laid out the grandmasters who could next face the formidable Dmitry Bivol, a list reading like a who's who of pugilistic danger: Canelo Álvarez, David Benavídez, and Artur Beterbiev. Hearn, whose promotional acumen is as sharp as a boxer's jab, recently met with the undefeated WBA light heavyweight champion, emphasizing Bivol's dual quest for legacy-defining super-fights and the monumental paydays they command.'He needs the big fights, the big money,' Hearn stated, pinpointing Benavídez and Beterbiev as 'real tests, but very dangerous fights. ' This isn't just about titles; it's a pursuit of greatness against the 'Mexican Monster' Benavídez, a relentless pressure fighter with a terrifying knockout ratio that echoes legends like Julio César Chávez, and Beterbiev, the IBF, WBC, and WBO champion whose 100% KO record is a statistic so brutal it feels almost mythical.The shadow of a third fight with Beterbiev looms particularly large, a narrative complicated by Bivol's recent back surgery in early August—a development Beterbiev cynically framed as strategic avoidance, publicly questioning, 'How old must I get for us to have the third fight?' This accusation injects a potent dose of personal drama into the sporting equation, reminiscent of the simmering rivalries that defined the eras of Ali and Frazier. And then there is the specter of Canelo, a rematch of Bivol's masterclass victory in 2022 that would not only be a financial windfall eclipsing most in the sport but a chance to definitively silence any lingering doubters, solidifying Bivol's standing in the pantheon of all-time greats alongside names like Sugar Ray Robinson.The potential bout with Opetaia further illustrates Hearn's strategy of positioning Bivol as the division's final boss, a man willing to face all comers from cruiserweight to super middleweight. For fight fans, this is more than a schedule; it's a roadmap to historic nights that will define a generation, where every punch thrown carries the weight of legacy, money, and the unforgiving pursuit of undisputed status.
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#Dmitry Bivol
#Eddie Hearn
#Canelo Alvarez
#David Benavidez
#Artur Beterbiev
#potential fights