WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol may not have fought since beating Gilberto Ramirez in November 2022, but it looks like an undisputed showdown with WBC, WBO and IBF light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev could be close to being made.
There are however a number of stumbling bloakcs which could stop this fight from being made including the fact that Bivol and Beterbiev are under the Matchroom and Top Rank promotional banners respectively.
Bivol's manager Vadim Kornilov is remaining confident about both parties reaching an agreement and is hoping an undisputed light heavyweight title fight can take place next summer.
“As far as I know, some of the conversations I had with Matchroom and Top Rank regarding this, as far as I know, if all this comes together, they’re ready to do it after Ramadan next year," Kornilov said.
"So if he [Artur Beterbiev] wins, if he beats Callum Smith in January, I think there will be very serious discussions about this fight happening in May, June, or July of next year.
“It would be perfect timing."
Before talks can progress for an undisputed fight, Beterbiev must first successfully defend all three of his light heavyweight world titles against Callum Smith in Quebec on January 13.