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Artur Beterbiev solidified his status as the undisputed light heavyweight champion earlier this month, emerging victorious in a unification clash against Dmitry Bivol with a contentious split-decision win in Saudi Arabia. An undisputed bout between the two undefeated Russians had been mooted for some time, but it took the money of the Arabian Gulf and specifically Turki Alalshikh to bring the clash to fruition.
Once the bout was penned, punters thought it could go one of two ways. Either Bivol would utilize his superior boxing skills to cruise to a wide decision victory, just as he did when he upset Canelo Alvarez. Or, Beterbiev would use his terrifying power to march towards his 21st straight knockout victory. Ultimately, however, neither of those things happened.
In a tactical bout for the ages, Beterbiev more than held his own against the amateur pedigree of Bivol. He managed to knick rounds against his compatriot, unlike any of his previous opponents. He took full advantage of Bivol slowing down the stretch to pick up additional rounds, and they ultimately carried him to a razor-thin – albeit contentious – split-decision victory.
The win added Bivols’ WBA (Super) title to Beterbiev’s already amassed haul of the WBC, IBF, and WBO straps. But now, attention turns to what’s next for the newly minted undisputed champion.
David Benavidez: A Rising Threat
The WBC Championship has long been considered the most prestigious of the four titles awarded in each weight class today. The prestige of the Big Green Belt has seen the World Boxing Council branch out into alternative media sources in a bid to capitalize further on that. Long have the worlds of boxing and gambling been intertwined, with most big-money fights being hosted in Las Vegas, and sportsbooks the world over offering betting on all the top fights.
However, the WBC has gone one step further. They have created a popular online slot game called WBC Ring of Riches, and it is currently available to play on one of the best gambling sites in Canada, with others expected to follow suit. As such then, it’s safe to say that the WBC will have plenty of input when it comes to determining who Beterbiev will fight next, and they have a tailor-made opponent in the form of David Benavidez.
The former super-middleweight world champion is currently the WBC’s interim champion, an honor he claimed with a unanimous decision victory over Oleksandr Gvozdyk in his light heavyweight debut. The Mexican Monster has plenty of clout in the American boxing scene, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the two WBC title holders face off in a unification bout next.
Known for his aggressive style and knockout power, the Mexican-American is a formidable opponent who could present a fresh challenge for the newly minted champ. His dominant victory against Caleb Plant last year announced his arrival as a major player in the fight game, and another win against the fearsome Beterbiev would catapult him into the world’s elite after years of being avoided. For the current champ, the bout would be a lucrative one, and with him now being aged 39, there may not be too many of those left in the tank.
The Case for a Bivol Rematch
The most immediate and perhaps logical option for Beterbiev is a rematch with Dmitry Bivol. Their first encounter was a showcase of elite boxing skills, ending in a decision that left both fans and Bivol’s camp yearning for a second act. His promoter Eddie Hearn was particularly vocal about the contentious defeat, branding the judge’s decision as a “robbery” and ruining what he called a “boxing masterclass” from his fighter.
The aforementioned Turki Alalshikh also stated that he thought that the wrong man won, but didn’t go as far as branding the decision as a robbery. However, he stated that he wished to make an immediate rematch next, something the Bivol certainly deserves after his stellar performance – albeit in defeat. The IBF has shown a willingness to allow Beterbiev to bypass a mandatory defense against Michael Eifert, but it remains to be seen whether the WBC, WBA, and WBO will be so kind.
The Canelo Factor
Canelo Alvarez remains one of boxing’s biggest names, and his interest in conquering multiple weight classes makes him a perennial candidate for high-profile bouts. The current undisputed super-middleweight champion has ventured up to light heavyweight twice in the past, firstly to secure a late come-from-behind knockout of veteran Sergey Kovalev, before losing to his Russian compatriot Bivol in the summer of 2022.
The pay-per-view king has had more success against power hitters such as Beterbiev, and that would certainly appeal to him if he were to make the step up in weight once again. Plus, a victory against the undisputed light heavyweight champion would do plenty to secure redemption for his loss to Bivol in beating the man that his former conqueror could not. As well as that, there is his legacy in question as well, and a victory for Canelo would make him the first man in history to simultaneously hold two undisputed championships in different divisions.
However, this matchup poses risks for both fighters. For Canelo, stepping into the ring with a naturally larger, undefeated champion like Beterbiev could be daunting. Meanwhile, Beterbiev would face someone with unparalleled ring IQ and experience in high-stakes fights. The intrigue lies in whether the allure of becoming undisputed in another division is tempting enough for Canelo and if Beterbiev is willing to risk his hard-earned titles against one of the sport’s biggest stars.