Dmitry Bivol targets Canelo Alvarez or David Benavidez Fight

The mandatory defense is expected to come against Michael Eifert this spring. The bout is slated for May 23 on a card headlined by unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Once that commitment is settled, Bivol’s team wants to move straight into a third fight with Beterbiev. Their rivalry produced two close fights, leaving unfinished business between the two fighters who have dominated the light heavyweight division over the past few years and built one of the sport’s most respected rivalries.

The more intriguing possibilities come after that trilogy. Rafael reported that Bivol’s camp views a second fight with Canelo as one of the main options still available to the champion. Bivol defeated Alvarez by unanimous decision in 2022, handing the Mexican star one of the clearest losses of his career.

Another potential opponent being mentioned is Benavidez, who has moved up to light heavyweight and has been pushing for a shot at the division’s top fighters. A match between Bivol and Benavidez would pit the undefeated Mexican-American contender against the champion who currently holds the division’s four major titles.

Kornilov also suggested that Bivol could eventually test himself at cruiserweight, though that idea appears to be a longer-term possibility rather than the immediate plan for the undefeated champion.

For now, the road map is simple: meet the IBF mandatory against Eifert, complete the trilogy with Beterbiev, then pursue one of the big fights that could define the latter part of Bivol’s career.