Bob Arum announced that Artur Beterbiev is set to fight Anthony Yarde this Autumn ahead of an undisputed clash in 2023.
Yarde is the WBO mandatory challenger and before last Saturday that would have led him to take on American fighter Joe Smith Jr.
However Beterbiev comfortably dealt with Smith in New York and assumed his third belt, and Yarde, his promoter Frank Warren, and now Arum appear ready to set up a fight between the Russian and Briton light heavyweight duo.
A fight this autumn would mean another fight for either participant would almost certainly come no earlier than 2023.
Arum tweeted: “We look forward to the sensational Artur Beterbiev crossing the pond to fight Anthony Yarde in London this fall.
“We hope that the winner can fight for the undisputed light heavyweight title early next year.”
Bivol may have anticipated a rematch with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez after his surprise triumph in May, but the Mexican has instead returned to Gennadiy Golovkin for his September fight.
That pushes any Bivol rematch into the new year, as well, meaning that Yarde or Beterbiev could take on Bivol before the WBA champion faces off against Canelo for a second time.