Eddie Hearn believes that a Canelo Alvarez vs. Dmitry Bivol rematch could be ‘the biggest fight in boxing’.
The Mexican undisputed super middleweight champion came unstuck as he moved up to 175lbs to face the WBA light heavyweight champion in Las Vegas, which was expected to be his last fight in the weight for a while as he moved onto a trilogy rematch with Gennadiy Golovkin.
Many were looking past Bivol in expectation of that clash in September but it appears that a second fight between the pair is on the cards, according to Matchroom head Hearn.
Speaking at a post-fight press conference, Hearn said: “I think Canelo against Dmitry Bivol (in a rematch) is probably the biggest fight in boxing right now, but it’s going to be down to Canelo, and obviously we’ll speak to Dmitry and (manager) Vadim (Kornilov), but I can’t see (Canelo) not wanting to accept the challenge.
“I said in the build-up, it’s like Canelo wants to handicap himself and fight these big, great champions to test himself, and tonight it was maybe a bridge too far against a great light heavyweight world champion. But knowing Saul, I would think he would only want one fight, which is the rematch with Dmitry Bivol.”
That would leave Golovkin without a clear next fight, having struggled to find big-name opponents ready to take him on at middleweight. Having defeated Ryota Murata in his last fight, he is currently the IBF and WBA champion.
Demetrius Andrade is the current WBO belt holder, but he has his heart set on a move up to 168lbs, while Jermell Charlo holds the WBC strap.