By Allan Fox: Eddie Hearn has ruled out Jermall Charlo as an option for Dmitry Bivol’s next fight in 2023. Hearn says he thought the inactive Jermall was retired from the sport because he hasn’t fought in ages.
Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs) surprised many boxing fans over the weekend when he approached Bivol last Saturday night and called him out during the Jose Zepeda vs. Regis Prograis fight at the Dignity Health Sports Center in Carson, California.
Bivol was polite about it, choosing to entertain the idea of a fight against the unbeaten middleweight champion Jermall at 168. Still, unfortunately, he has nothing to offer him, as Hearn points out.
Dmitry wants to fight for world titles, Charlo doesn’t hold a belt at 168, and he hasn’t fought in a year and a half.
Hearn says WBA light heavyweight champion Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) is looking at fights against unified 175-lb champion Artur Beterbiev and a rematch with Canelo Alvarez in 2023.
With Canelo deciding on taking a tune-up fight in May, it leaves Bivol without an opponent for early 2023. Hearn will likely attempt to match Bivol against his fighter #2 WBA Joshua Buatsi next.
Hearn has had Buatsi as part of his Matchroom Boxing stable since shortly after he competed in the 2016 Olympics. and he’s yet to compete for a world title.
“That was a weird one. I don’t know what Charlo was doing, really,” said Eddie Hearn to DAZN Boxing Show when asked about his reaction to Jermall Charlo calling out Dmitry Bivol last Saturday night when the two met each other in Carson, California.
“I thought he [Charlo] retired. I think Dmitry Bivol is becoming a real fan favorite. People are seeing the funny side of Dmitry Bivol. He’s quite cheeky.
“Fans love the fact that he’s willing to fight anybody. I really don’t see the value in the [Jermall] Charlo fight. He doesn’t have a belt at 168. He’s a good fighter. I’m not saying we wouldn’t be interested in that fight, but for Dmitry Bivol, it’s Saul Canelo Alvarez in September.
“Maybe the John Ryder fight in the UK [for Canelo] before that, given that he’s now the mandatory challenger for Canelo Alvarez. Artur Beterbiev defending his 175-lb titles.
“I don’t see Charlo as someone we’re seriously looking at, but who knows? He’s a good fighter, but Dmitry Bivol is ready for all comers. I think the interesting thing about Dmitry Bivol is the whole Canelo Alvarez debate between 175 and 168 for that fight.
“You have to understand that in Canelo Alvarez’s mind, I believe he thinks, ‘I don’t want to fight you [Bivol] at 168 because I lost to you at 175. I don’t want to bring you down to my weight to have people say, ‘Oh, you brought him down to 168. It was the weight that won you the fight.’
“Respect to Canelo Alvarez because he’s saying, ‘I want the same conditions [175]. I need to best you how it was last time,’ yet Dmitry Bivol is saying, ‘I want to fight you at 168 because I actually want to try to become undisputed at 168 and then fight [Artur] Beterbiev at 175.’
“So, it’s actually quite fascinating how that fight is going to play out in negotiations because, like I said, Canelo isn’t going to want people to criticize him, ‘Oh, you lost at 175. Now you’re trying to bring him to 168.
“He’s going to say, ‘I lost before. I want to beat you under the same conditions, and it’s going to be interesting to see how those talks evolve.
“I spoke to [Canelo’s manager/trainer] Eddy Reynoso after the John Ryder fight on Saturday just to say, ‘A good win from John Ryder. He’ll be an option for us as well.’
“I’m seeing Eddy Reynoso. Julio Cesar Martinez is fighting on the Estrada vs. Chocolatito card this weekend. We’ll have a chat out there [Glendale, Arizona].
“I guess the feeling is to have that fight around May time and then move to a Dmitry Bivol rematch in September,” said Hearn.