By Charles Brun: Eddie Hearn is chomping at the bit to match WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol against Lyndon Arthur next in December, but the reaction from fans is as cold as outer space.
They don’t want to see Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) defend against another non-hoper, particularly a fighter who was knocked out in four rounds by Anthony Yarde in 2021.
Arthur (23-1, 16 KOs) is a decent domestic-level scraper, but the way Yarde blew him out it makes him a poor option for Bivol.
It’s been ten months since Bivol last defended against Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez, and he needs to get back in the ring against a quality opponent and not another stiff.
If this is the best that Hearn can dig up to get Bivol back in action after nearly a year out of the ring, so be it, but it would be nicer if a live body brought in that U.S. boxing that would be interested in watching.
Hearn says British fighters Joshua Buatsi & Dan Azeez weren’t interested in fighting Bivol. It’s unclear if Hearn is only combing the ranks of UK fighters, hunting for an opponent for Bivol, or if these are guys he thinks would give him a good test.
Quality options for Bivol to fight next:
- David Benavidez
- Jaime Munguia
- Demetrius Andrade
- Edgar Berlanga
- Richard Rivera
- David Morrell Jr.
- Diego Pacheco
David Benavidez was recently bragging about having done well against Bivol in sparring in the past, so he would be the first option.
Hearn should ask the massive, light, heavyweight-sized Benavidez if he’s willing to test himself for real against Bivol to show that he can get the better of him in a fight.
Benavidez has more than enough size to face Bivol at 175 and would likely have a weight advantage over him on the night of the fight.
As large as Benavidez is, he should be campaigning at light heavyweight instead of at 168, especially given that he’s not getting the fight he’s been pushing for against Canelo Alvarez, and he probably never will.
“Yeah, I just like giving British fighters an opportunity. Let’s see if Lyndon Arthur will take the fight. It’s a good opportunity for him,” said Hearn to Pro Boxing Fans on who he’s looking Dmitry Bivol to fight in December.
Bivol has already fought two British fighters in the last five years, beating Jean Pascal and Craig Richards. Why does Hearn feel the need to throw a bone at another UK fighter? How about giving some U.S. guys a chance?
