Undisputed light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol has a lot of cards on the table. Yet, it’s currently uncertain who the 34-year-old will fight next. A couple of days ago, the WBC ordered the Indio, California native, to square off against ‘Interim’ WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez. Fans expected this before Bivol defeated Artur Beterbiev in February this year. 

You see, Bivol and Beterbiev first locked horns in October last year! While Beterbiev won their first exchange, Bivol reversed the decision in their second fight. Meanwhile, Benavidez, who failed to secure a fight against Canelo Alvarez in the super middleweight division, climbed to light heavyweight with the hopes he would get the shot at the undisputed championship of the division.

It looked possible for a while. However, with Bivol and Beterbiev’s trilogy on the line, Benavidez’s chances of landing the fight became steeper. Still, there seem to be other hurdles in making the fight happen, one of which Bivol’s promoter, Matchroom’s honcho Eddie Hearn, revealed in an interview with Boxing King Media. Going back a few months before Bivol vs. Beterbiev II, the 34-year-old was given an exception. 

Bivol reached out to all the sanctioning bodies to let Beterbiev fight him instead of his mandatory, which is what happened. So, this puts IBF’s number one contender, Michael Eifert, first in line to get a shot at the belt holder, Dmitry Bivol. “When you become undisputed, you have a lot of mandatories, so Benavidez is now mandatory with the WBC,” said Hearn during the interview. 

“The German fighter, I believe it’s Michael Eifert. He is the first in line because we actually got an exception or Beterbiev did to face Bivol in the rematch on the condition that you have to fight him next.” Hearn acknowledged the Eifert fight won’t set the “world on fire” with excitement. So, he and his team must decide what’s next for Bivol.

He also revealed what’s most likely to happen. And it’s not going in Benavidez’s favor. “My conversations with His Excellency lean towards Bivol-Beterbiev 3,” Hearn told the reporter. Meanwhile, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh has shared what he wants for Bivol next.

Saudi Boxing Chief doesn’t want Dmitry Bivol vs. David Benavidez anymore

By now, everyone knows the kind of power and influence Saudi Boxing Chief Turki Alalshikh has in the sport. Using his money and influence, the Saudi Royal has put together some of the biggest fights in boxing in recent years. While he was interested in Bivol vs. Benavidez before, it appears a trilogy between Bivol and Beterbiev will no longer happen.

“I am no longer interested in Bivol-Benavidez, and I will not bid on it,” Alalshikh told The Ring. “I think Bivol knows who has delivered for him and who hasn’t. My advice to Bivol: don’t be late because every day something changes.”

It’s also worth mentioning that Benavidez is a PBC-promoted boxer who has, for the most part, stayed away from the Saudi influence in boxing. 

After all is said and done, David Benavidez seems to be headed for the same fate as a super-middleweight. Despite promises, Benavidez fails to land a shot at the guy at the top. It would be wise for him to take on someone like Interim WBO Light Heavyweight Champion Callum Smith to solidify his claim against the winner of a trilogy between Beterbiev and Bivol.

What do you think Benavidez should do next?