Dmitry Bivol hopes to fight Artur Beterbiev after Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez, rather than immediately pursuing his Canelo Alvarez rematch.
After Bivol defeated the Mexican undisputed super middleweight champion in May, it had been initially anticipated that he and Canelo might swiftly run it back.
However, Canelo moved onto a trilogy rematch against Gennadiy Golovkin, this time at 168lbs, and a light heavyweight clash with Canelo is now on the back burner.
First of all, Bivol fights Ramirez in defence of his WBA light heavyweight strap live on DAZN on November 5, and speaking at a press conference, the champion made it clear he was pursuing belts ahead of anything else.
“To be honest, I want to fight for the other belts,' Bivol said. ”But if [Canelo] wants to fight me again, then we can negotiate it, and if everything is fine for me, then why not?
“To be undisputed is my main goal. When I was an amateur, it was to be Olympic champion. It helped me to train hard, to be focused, to be better.
“If you have a big goal, it helps you. And in professional boxing, if you are undisputed, it means you are at the highest level. This is what I want.”
Bivol is targeting a fight with IBF, WBC, and WBO champion Beterbiev, who also boasts an unbeaten record.
“We have the belts. It means we are the best,” he explained. “I have been the champion for the last five years; I can't say I am the best, but of course, one of the best.”