By Jake Tiernan: A fight between WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol and #7 Lyndon Arthur is possible for December. Frank Smith of Matchroom is working on trying to set up that fight.
Eddie Hearn says he’s already offered the Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) fight to British fighters Dan Azeez and Joshua Buatsi. Now, he’s hoping the 32-year-old Arthur will agree to it.
If the Bivol-Arthur fight does get made, it’s unclear where it would be staged. Since Arthur is a British fighter that U.S. boxing fans aren’t familiar with and wouldn’t be excited to see, it would be better to stage the contest in England. London would be a good location for the Bivol-Arthur fight.
The Manchester native Arthur (23-1, 16 KOs) has won his last four fights against little known opposition of limited talent since getting blown out by a fourth round knockout by Anthony Yarde in December 2021.
With the 175-lb division totally devoid of popular fighters, Bivol has limited options for fights that would appeal to the public. Unable to get the undisputed clash that he wants against IBF, WBC & WBO light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev, Bivol is reduced to fighting obscure fighters like Arthur.
The rematch for Bivol against Canelo Alvarez is no longer an option due to the Mexican star deciding against facing him again after suffering a one-sided loss last year.
“Yeah, I just like giving British fighters an opportunity. Lyndon Arthur is a good fighter. We offered the fight to Dan Azeez. Obviously, [Joshua] Buatsi turned down the fight,” said Eddie Hearn to Pro Boxing Fans about his efforts at finding an opponent for WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol to fight in December.
“Let’s see if Lyndon Arthur will take the fight. It’s a good opportunity for him. Frank [Smith of Matchroom] is dealing with that with Sauerland. Let’s see where it gets to,” said Hearn.
Fans would like to see Bivol take on one of these 168-pounders:
- David Benavidez
- Edgar Berlanga
- Jaime Munguia
- Demetrius Andrade
- David Morrell Jr.
- Caleb Plant
It would be better for Bivol to vacate his WBA 175-lb title and move down to the 168-lb division, where he would have many more opportunities for compelling fights. It’s pointless to be a world champion in a division that is barren of popular fighters.
Bivol still hopes to fight for the undisputed championship at 175 one of these days, but it doesn’t seem likely. He could end up waiting for nothing because the WBC won’t sanction the fight.
