{"id":816928,"date":"2026-07-21T19:00:19","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T19:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/816928\/"},"modified":"2026-07-21T19:00:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T19:00:19","slug":"bivol-to-vacate-wbo-title-ditch-smith-for-beterviev","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/816928\/","title":{"rendered":"Bivol to vacate WBO title, ditch Smith for Beterviev"},"content":{"rendered":"

Earlier this month, The Ring, IBF, WBA, and WBO titleholder Bivol was ordered by the latter to face mandatory challenger and interim champion Callum Smith<\/a>. Both sides have until July 26 to agree to a deal, but it doesn’t appear anything will get done because Bivol has told his promoter to pursue the trilogy fight against Artur Beterbiev<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“[Bivol’s manager] Vadim Kornilov and Bivol have told me to please begin negotiations with [IBA president] Umar Kremlev, or RCC Boxing Promotions. We’re ready to make the Beterbiev fight. That’s the fight Dmitry wants,” Hearn told The Ring. <\/p>\n

“Dmitry is due to fight Callum Smith. I think it’s unlikely he’ll defend against Smith. I think Smith will fight Joshua Buatsi for the vacant title. But Bivol is ready to make the Beterbiev fight.”<\/p>\n

Kremlev told The Ring last week that Bivol recently declined a twice as lucrative offer to face Beterbiev<\/a>. <\/p>\n

“None of that is true. You know, firstly, I heard reports that Bivol has been offered $14 million to fight Beterbiev,” Hearn said. “If those people are watching right now, call me and make that offer, and he will accept it immediately.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Bivol<\/a> and Beterbiev split a pair of razor-close majority decisions in their championship rivalry. Beterbiev edged the first meeting in October 2024 to become the undisputed light heavyweight king. Bivol avenged the defeat four months later to reclaim the crown. Both blockbuster bouts headlined cards in Saudi Arabia backed by Turki Alalshikh.<\/p>\n

Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) hasn’t fought since the sequel and has been vocal about his displeasure regarding Bivol’s unwillingness to move forward with a third fight. <\/p>\n

Bivol (25-1, 12 KOs) returned from back surgery in May to easily outpoint his outmatched IBF mandatory challenger, Michael Eifert. <\/p>\n

Manouk Akopyan is The Ring\u2019s lead writer. Follow him on X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>: @ManoukAkopyan.