So now that Canelo Alvarez had signed a 3-fight deal with PBC, Bivol was hanging without an opponent. A pursuit of unifying the belt against the 3-belt holder Artur Beterbiev is in the picture but I wonder if both networks and promoters agree to a deal. But the longer this plays out, the more Beterbiev is disadvantaged due to his age so there is also the possibility that Top Rank and ESPN may not really want to match them unless Bivol can be signed by Top Rank.
DAZN and Eddie Hearn should let Bivol have a 1 or 2 fight deal under the exclusive rights of Top Rank and ESPN if they really want to happen it ASAP. The WBC is all about money so greedy Sulaiman can cancel or make an exemption on its nonsense ban on Russian fighters when given the right amount of cheque.
DAZN and Eddie Hearn should let Bivol have a 1 or 2 fight deal under the exclusive rights of Top Rank and ESPN if they really want to happen it ASAP. The WBC is all about money so greedy Sulaiman can cancel or make an exemption on its nonsense ban on Russian fighters when given the right amount of cheque.
Well, to be honest, I pretty much hope that WBC will be bribed easily and that the right amount will do the trick to make the undisputed fight into reality before Beterbiev starts considering his retirement. I mean, the man is just a few years away from being a 40 years old and before his retirement phase, at least he can have that fight because it will be total waste if he will retire without having any chance of cementing his legacy.
If there will be no pressure from someone above, I think they can get the WBC's approval with the right figure since they are the only ones who are making a stand to stop the undisputed fight from happening. Other than that, both camps can begin their negotiation and it will be a smooth sailing discussion as long as Eddie Hearn will let Bob Arum to organize it as the latter have the right to demand because it is his boxer who got more belts to offer.
WBC should start to look on the bright side and just accept any offer that is presented on the horizon, there's no need for them to enforce these pressures because in the first place, these Russian boxers have nothing to do with what is happening up North, they are just a private individual who seeks a better future inside the boxing industry. It would be unfair if they will still enforce it these days as that's just like the same as racial profiling, sadly.
Bob Arum already said himself that the undisputed fight will not happen this year because WBC is still not inclined about it.
Link: https://www.boxingnews24.com/2023/06/dmitry-bivol-vs-artur-beterbiev-wont-happen-this-year-says-bob-arum/#:~:text=By%20Sean%20Jones%3A%20Top%20Rank,current%20ban%20on%20Russian%20athletes.
That is a sad news because we are hoping that somehow this year, they can make a slight negotiation about the said undisputed fight while also working their permit with WBC in the safe side. Among the four sanctioning bodies, only the WBC is making a stand and while the remaining three seems inclined towards the fight because it's a nice paycheck for them.
