Want To Tand UP Against Dimitri Bivol? Artur Beterbiev Must Join Callum Smith First

WBC boxing world champion, Artur Beterbiev. (Photo: Instagram/@arturbeterbiev)

JAKARTA WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman has confirmed that IBF/WBC/WBO lightweight champion Artur Beterbiev will not face WBA champion Dmitry Bivol anytime soon.

The reason is, Beterbiev was ordered to maintain the title against mandatory challengers from WBC Callum Smith.

"At this point, I emphasize, there has been no request [from Dmitry Bivol]. For us, the next fight is a mandatory duel," Sulaiman told Izquierdazo about Beterbiev having to face Smith, reported Boxing News24.

"Yes, of course [he is a fighter who excels in terms of punches]. Callum Smith is an extraordinary fighter. His only defeat is an absolute decision from Canelo. So, the mandatory battle between Artur and Callum will be very important," he added.

Bivol did not qualify to fight Beterbiev as the World Boxing Council (WBC) issued a ban.

However, Beterbiev could make that happen if he was willing to empty the WBC title.

However, as Beterbiev and Bivol were interested in fighting for the undisputed world title in the 175th class, removing the WBC belt was not a good choice.

"Bivol has not approached the WBC [to request an exception]. In our last convention, we are very clear about our position in relation to fighters from Russia and Belarus and that is what happened to Bivol," said Sulaiman.

WBC's decision to block Bivol from fighting against Beterbiev automatically made Callum promoter Eddie Hearn happy. It's because that fight is what he wants.

Hearn can actually easily petition the WBC to allow Bivol to fight Beterbiev for their championship belt. However, he would not do that because he had other plans.

Hearn himself is known to really want his client to challenge Beterbiev who was promoted by Top Rank to fight for the WBC belt. If Callum, who is a former WBA super middleweight champion, beats Beterbiev, it will make Hearn even more fragile.

The reason is, the automatic victory led Callum to face Bivol to fight for the undisputed title.

Hearn, who also promotes Bivol, plans to keep Bivol in his company. That's because he wants to bring him together with boxer Joshua Create in April, following Canelo Alvarez in September.