By Sean Jones: Dmitry Bivol can be getting back from a yr layoff to defend his WBA gentle heavyweight title in December in opposition to a still-to-be-determined challenger.
Promoter Eddie Hearn says Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) has had a hand damage that he suffered earlier this yr, which is why he’s not fought in 2023. Hearn says contenders Joshua Buatsi, Dan Azeez & Lyndon Arthur had been supplied the struggle with Bivol however didn’t conform to it.
Bivol’s latest dominating performances in opposition to Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez and Canelo Alvarez might have scared off a number of the contenders, however there are nonetheless many wonderful choices for him to struggle in December.
Hearn says that after December’s title protection, the plan is to arrange an undisputed struggle in opposition to the winner of the January 13 struggle between IBF, WBC &WBO gentle heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev & Callum Smith.
WBA’s prime 10 contenders:
1. Joshua Buatsi2. Dan Azeez3. Anthony Yarde4. Albert Ramirez5. Richard Rivera6. Oleksandr Gvozdyk7. Lyndon Arthur8. Connor Wallace9. Ahmed Elbiali10. Gabriel Diaz
Boxing followers wish to see Bivol tackle former WBC 175-lb champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk or Richard Rivera subsequent. These could be good fights if Hearn can put them collectively.
“He’s been out with a hand damage for some time now, however he’s again coaching, and he’s able to struggle in December,” mentioned Eddie Hearn to Seconds Out’s website in regards to the return of WBA gentle heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, who hasn’t fought since final yr in November.
“We supplied Dan Aziz the struggle and clearly [Joshua] Buatsi earlier than that, Lyndon Arthur as properly. Not many are queuing as much as struggle Dmitry Bivol, I perceive, however we anticipate to see him again in December, and we’re engaged on a present in November and a present in December that we’re trying to finalize in the intervening time. So, hopefully, we see him again quickly.
“I mentioned to him the opposite day that ‘You actually need to inform folks about your hand damage as a result of it simply appears such as you’ve been out for a yr, and we get the blame,’” mentioned Hearn about Bivol having been inactive attributable to a hand damage.
“So, he hasn’t been out there to struggle. Earlier within the yr, he was truly nice, after which he picked up the damage. It’s been a little bit of a irritating interval.
“Wanting ahead to him getting out as soon as in 2023 after which transferring into the winner of Callum Smith in opposition to Beterbiev for the undisputed. That’s the struggle, and we anticipate to see it occur,” mentioned Hearn.
