Dmitry Bivol vs Callum Smith on December 12 in Ekaterinaburg

What a waste of time. Bivol fighting every mandatory other than Benavidez. He could have fought David in Dec, the offer was made to fight in Vegas.

 

So it could be 3 years before a meaningful LHW title fight is signed again. Bivol is a cancer.

 

Can Ukrainian drones reach Ekaterinberg?

 

Not the fight we would love to see in Benavidez but Smith is a quality opponent. Unfortunately, he will be coming off a 22 month layoff by the time the fight takes place. I'm not sure we will see Benavidez at 175 again. I would also say that it's crazy that Josh Buatsi nas never gotten a title bout against Bivol or Beterbiev.

 

That's disappointing to say the least - Bivol's camp were saying that he was going to vacate the WBO and make Beterbiev III.

Not great optics this!

That said, he's probably damned if he does damned if he doesn't - many folks don't want to see Beterbiev III and only want the Benavidez fight - but he seems to be staying at Cruiser now?

Who knows what's going on here!

 

A complete mess. Bivol fresh from a 12 round sparring session against the usual passive mandatory, he now takes on Mr Lucky.
No need to expand on the good fortune that has graced Smith’s occasional ring appearances!
It’s probably wiped out any chance of Bivol ever fighting Benavidez or Beterbiev.

 

I want to see benavidez offer a neutral fight venue then I will accuse bivol of ducking him. No earlier.
Imagine bivol offering to fight benavidez in russia (with some investor money - to take away the money argument for vegas). Maybe with 3 russian judges for the 3 us judges benavidez will certainly get in vegas...

I doubt benavidez' team would be quick to take that fight.

Fact is bivol won't ko benavidez and will need neutral judges as the fight could be a 8-4 or 7-5 affair.

If bivol isn't hurt by his previous operation and far diminished from the beterbiev version of himself I expect him to win against benavidez.

 

At this point I hope Bivol-Beterbiev 3 never happens. Beterbiev will be 42 in January, and in February. it will be two years since their rematch, and Beterbiev hasn't fought since.

 

This whole saga is just deeply unfortunate. I remember at the time not wanting Bivol v Beterbiev 2 specifically cause I was worried about this happening. Bivol winning the rematch and playing keep away. And it happened worse than I feared it would.