I'm curious if it does. I realize both of them are older and coming off a loss, and that Bivol was originally intended as a headliner. But I wonder if his new opponent will warrant top billing.
Beterbiev seemingly always gets hurt. I guess his body is breaking down. He shoulda fought more when he was younger, built up a better resume.
I don't think you can have Zhang v Wilder as a PPV headliner. As you say, they are both old and coming off a loss, but it was also the manner of the loss for both of them. Wilder (38) looked completely shot in his last outing, and Zhang (41) doesn't have the stamina to see out a 12-round fight after dominating the opening. Plus, there isn't anything on the line. It's not even an eliminator. Good undercard fight. Bad headliner.
He has promoter issues with Yvon Michael and Bob Arum didn't have much faith in him until he bludgeoned Gvozdyk and Joe Smith into submission. Eddie Hearn would have done a better job with him but it would have meant sacrificing Bivol.