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Eddie Hearn realizes that satisfying Canelo Alvarez’s demands for a Dmitry Bivol rematch may be tricky to accomplish under the Mexican champion’s preferred time frame.
The Matchroom Boxing head will be promoting the undisputed 168-pound champion from Mexico in his upcoming trilogy fight against sworn rival Gennadiy Golovkin on Sept. 17 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Alvarez has made it clear, however, that he wants to get revenge against Bivol, the WBA light heavyweight titlist, next May. Bivol defeated Alvarez by unanimous decision in their light heavyweight title bout in May.
Bivol, however, may be tied up for as many as two consecutive fights, which could complicate that timeline.
Bivol, the Kyrgyzstan-born, Russian national was recently ordered by the WBA to face Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez, who is promoted by Golden Boy, which, like Hearn, has a broadcasting rights deal with DAZN. Hearn, who promotes Bivol along with the Russian outfit World of Boxing, would prefer for Bivol to face Joshua Buatsi, the London-based contender whom Hearn promotes. Hearn said he recently filed an exemption with the WBA to make this happen.
If the WBA denies the exemption, Buatsi already has a backup plan with an IBF world title eliminator against Jean Pascal.
The British promoter is cognizant that Bivol may have to fight both Buatsi and Ramirez in order for a rematch to take place with Alvarez.
“Zurdo is being called as a mandatory but we already put in an [exemption] for Bivol to fight Joshua Buatsi, so that will be reviewed by the WBA either way,” Hearn told The DAZN Boxing Show. “He’s gonna have to fight one or both of those guys before Canelo Alvarez and they’re both very dangerous fights.”
It is not clear how an Alvarez rematch can happen in May, as hoped for, if Bivol has two fights to clear from his plate. Alvarez has fought in May and September of each calendar year for most of his mature career in order to take advantage of the annual Mexican celebrations that occur in those months. Hearn expects Bivol to return to the ring by October or November, but that would theoretically not leave much time for Bivol to take on another fight before an Alvarez rematch.
“Buatsi is a great talent,” Hearn said. “Gilberto Ramirez is a great talent as well, former world champion. Canelo has made it clear he wants to fight Gennadiy Golovkin and then he wants to rematch Dmitry Bivol in May, so we’re a little bit up against time.”
“I would think October, early November is realistic for Dmitry Bivol’s next fight,” Hearn continued. “We’re talking to World of Boxing. Obviously, he’s under contract to us, so we’ll be planning out his next fight. Whether that’s Buatsi or whether that’s Ramirez it will be one of those guys next.”