NEWS: ARTUR BETERBIEV ISN'T SURE DMITRY BIVOL WANTS UNIFICATION CLASH

‍‍‍‍By: Jay Calderon

Currently, unified Light-Heavyweight titlist Artur Beterbiev is preparing for an upcoming showdown with the hard-hitting Anthony Yarde. The bout, scheduled for January 28, will take place at Wembley Arena in London, England, the birthplace of Yarde.

Considering his opponent's punching power and the location of the fight, Beterbiev may certainly be in for a challenging night. However, Beterbiev has his sights set on the ultimate challenge at 175 pounds.

Ask anyone in boxing, and they will tell you the best fight to make at Light-Heavyweight is between Beterbiev and fellow titlist Dmitry Bivol -- and that's the fight Beterbiev has in mind for 2023, provided he's successful later this month.

Still, according to Beterbiev, he's not so sure Bivol, his former Russian amateur teammate, is as interesting in the fight.

"I hope I fight [Bivol] in 2023 but the hold up is not from my side, it's from their side," Beterbiev told BoxingScene.com. "In the last three years, he always says he will fight me next but in this time we've done unification fights against Oleksandr Gvozdyk and Joe Smith. We've done that whereas he has just been talking about it."

Truthfully, the hold up is likely more promotional than it is fighter-related (as is usually the case). Neither Bivol and Beterbiev seem like fighters running from a unification bout. However, with Beterbiev attached to Top Rank/ESPN and Bivol linked with DAZN, making a fight can be harder than would be preferred.

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