British light-heavyweight Craig Richards has announced that he is set to challenge Dmitry Bivol for his WBA light-heavyweight title sometime in the spring.
Bivol has been labelled one of boxing's most avoided fighters, and the unbeaten Russian hasn't competed since October 2019 when he took a unanimous decision over Gilbert Lenin Castillo in Chicago.
Richards, however, has gone over three years since his only pro defeat to Frank Buglioni and is fresh off an impressive ninth-round finish of Shakan Pitters just before Christmas to become British champion at 175lbs.
He told Sky Sports that talks are underway and that he has no fear of Bivol whatsoever.
"There's been negotiations for this fight for the last few weeks, back and forth, Richards said. "It seems like it's moving in the right direction.
"That's the fight I wanted. Exactly the time I wanted it.
"You don't get much bigger than Dmitry Bivol at my weight," said Richards. "I think he's a good boxer. He's got a lot of things he does well. He's very seasoned. I can see there's flaws in him as well.
"This is the sort of fight where I will of course go through all my gears and show what I'm really about. I feel like stylistically, he'll bring the best out of me.
"It will be tougher than the domestic fighters I've been knocking out, but I believe I've got enough IQ, enough skill and enough punch power to gain his respect and break him down over the duration.
"He's a man, he's a human being, two arms, two legs, just like myself. I hit very hard, I've got a good boxing brain and I've got a good chin myself, and I believe I've got the tools to win."
Asked about a possible date and venue, he said: "I know it will be April, and I think it will be over here, as far as I've heard."