What’s the hold up with Bivol v Beterbiev?

There's no point in Bivol fighting Beterbiev.

Number one, Bivol simply can't win against a guy who can box nearly as well as he can, but hits far harder. Two, Russia also wont allow it to happen because, and I could be wrong, these two are the only top Russian boxers out there at the moment. There's also just not much of an appetite for these 2 to go at it as both are very technical and just not that entertaining compared to all the other matchups of the top guys. If it ain't entertaining, its not going to generate ticket sales or much chatter period.

 

The biggest obstacle is that the WBC said that they wouldn't allow Bivol to compete for their belt out of "respect" to Ukraine.

However, Bivol has actually spoken out against the war, while their champ, who is also a Russian national, publicly supports Ramzan Kadyrov.

So the answer seems to be: corruption as per usual.

 

That's fine. The WBC can go **** themselves.

Just have a fight and have the other belts on the line.

 

They shook and in Saudi so I am sure it will happen soon. Money talks.

 

I believe Bivol is holding up the fight against Beterbiev ,he'd be in with by far the best and most powerful fighter he's ever fought at 175 and while Dmitry has some nice wins, Sullivan Barrera, an old Pascal, and Joe Smith he's gone the distance in his last 8 fights including a blown up middleweight in Canelo. 12 rounds is a long time with Beterbiev and I think Bivol knows it.

 

Money

 

The Indio, Californian native is probably too busy surfing and picking up babes.

 

This isn’t directed at you - but your post and it’s responses causes me to think of this…

The double standards fans have for less popular fighters not fighting each other vs. popular fighters not fighting each other is hilarious….

Meanwhile Canelo ducks everyone but somehow has the best resume of any active fighter (including moving up several weight classes above his natural weight to fight Bivol…..)

More directly related to your question - neither is a huge draw, and taking a huge risk fight like this isn’t going to make them much more money than taking seemingly easier fights (that are also likely to prolong how long they can continue making money fighting in comparison)

…The kind of thing a more popular and bigger drawing fighter would get called a duck for, basically.

 

Bivol don’t want that smoke

 

This fight has to happen. The belts need to be unified. No excuses... especially from crooks at WBC. Make the fight, Eddie.

 

As far as I know Bivol went through a crazy divorce, with his exwife and was therefor out of the picture for the last months. Some pretty fuped things happened there apperantly

 

Bivol is busy having a trilogy with his ex wife, going for the knockout this time

And Beterbiev is constantly injured anyway.

Neither one is particularily interested since it doesnt appear to be a bigger money fight for either than 1-2 easy defenses against brits