In the high-stakes world of boxing rivalries, few sagas have captured fans' imaginations quite like the epic showdowns between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol—especially with whispers of a third installment that could redefine light heavyweight supremacy. But here's where it gets controversial: What if health concerns are just a smokescreen for strategic dodging? Dive in as we unpack the latest twists in this heavyweight feud.
Article
Manouk Akopyan
RingMagazine.com | 20 minutes ago
Beterbiev Reveals Bivol's Trilogy Rejection, Eyes Clash with Benavidez
Artur Beterbiev, the former undisputed light heavyweight champion (check out his profile at https://ringmagazine.com/en/fighters/artur-beterbiev-182), shared fresh insights on Thursday about his ongoing quest for a third bout against Dmitry Bivol (discover more at https://ringmagazine.com/en/fighters/dmitry-bivol-392).
Beterbiev explained that Bivol turned down a lucrative proposal to host their rematch in Russia, though he didn't specify the exact timeline of the rejection. Adding a layer of intrigue, Beterbiev mentioned he wasn't privy to the financial details, but emphasized that the deal was substantial—comparable to or exceeding the payouts for their initial two encounters, which were promoted by Riyadh Season.
“Right now, my main priority is securing that trilogy,” Beterbiev commented to reporters during the IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships in Dubai. “A showdown in Moscow would be the ultimate spectacle for fans.”
For those new to boxing, a trilogy simply means a third match in a series of fights between two fighters, often seen as the definitive clash to settle lingering debates—think of it like the deciding game in a best-of-three playoff series.
Beterbiev, boasting a record of 21 wins and 1 loss with 20 knockouts (21-1, 20 KOs), claimed victory over Bivol in their October 2024 encounter via a majority decision. Bivol, on the other hand, flipped the script with a unanimous decision win in their February rematch (read the full recap at https://ringmagazine.com/en/news/bivol-claims-undisputed-light-heavyweight-titles-after-another-razor-close-beterbiev-duel), holding a solid 24-1 record with 12 KOs.
Beterbiev, who celebrates his 41st birthday in January, has been sidelined, eagerly awaiting Bivol's next step. Back in July, frustration boiled over as Beterbiev publicly criticized his opponent for dragging out talks (see the details at https://ringmagazine.com/en/news/frustrated-beterbiev-asks-bivol-how-old-before-finalising-trilogy), accusing him of deliberately stalling to let time erode Beterbiev's prime.
And this is the part most people miss: By August, Bivol disclosed he'd undergone back surgery and wouldn't be fighting again until the first quarter of 2026. Before addressing his health issues, Bivol had been all in on facing Beterbiev, even relinquishing his WBC title in April and skipping a mandatory defense against David Benavidez to keep the door open for their unfinished business.
Beterbiev had lined up a tune-up bout in November against Deon Nicholson on the Ring IV: Night of Champions event in Saudi Arabia, headlined by Benavidez's seventh-round knockout of Anthony Yarde. However, that fight fell through just weeks before the card.
Benavidez now holds the WBC light heavyweight belt that once belonged to Beterbiev, and he's shifting gears to cruiserweight territory with a matchup against WBA and WBO champion Gilberto Ramirez on May 2 (get the scoop at https://ringmagazine.com/en/news/david-benavidez-announces-gilberto-ramirez-fight-may-2). Benavidez has openly expressed readiness to drop back to 175 pounds for marquee bouts with either Beterbiev or Bivol.
“I caught some clips of that [Benavidez vs. Yarde fight], and yeah, he handled business well,” Beterbiev remarked. “Absolutely, fighting Benavidez is on my radar—it's crucial to reclaim my titles. Plus, the cruiserweight division sounds tempting too.”
This evolving dynamic has formed what some call the 'Killer B’s' triangle, uniting three of boxing's elite pound-for-pound talents: Bivol, Beterbiev, and Benavidez.
To give you some context for beginners, pound-for-pound rankings are like a league's MVP list, evaluating fighters across weight classes for overall skill and impact—Bivol sits at No. 5, Beterbiev at No. 6, and Benavidez at No. 9 on The Ring's prestigious list.
Now, let's stir the pot a bit: Is Bivol's surgery timing truly coincidental, or could it be a clever ploy to avoid a trilogy that might risk his undefeated status? And here's a controversial take—maybe Beterbiev's public frustration is more about ego than strategy. What do you think? Does Bivol deserve a break for health reasons, or is he stringing along a legendary rival? Share your hot takes in the comments below—we'd love to hear if you're Team Beterbiev, Team Bivol, or firmly in the camp of 'Let's get Benavidez in the mix!'
Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan
