Dmitry Bivol has vacated his World Boxing Commission (WBC) light-heavyweight title in pursuit of a third fight against former sparring partner Artur Beterbiev, Afrosport reports.
Bivol defeated Beterbiev by majority decision in their rematch on 23 February in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, claiming the WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF world titles.
The result between the two fighters is currently even, with Beterbiev winning the first fight, while Bivol got the better of his longtime rival in the second bout.
The Russian was mandated to fight top contender David Benavidez next, but WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman on Monday confirmed that he had relinquished his title in search of a trilogy against his compatriot Beterbiev.
Sulaiman wrote on X, “I have just received a cold and impersonal notification from Dmitry Bivol lawyer, Patrick English, with arguments that are so ridiculous that I rather not discuss informing the WBC that Dmitry Bivol has decided to relinquish his WBC light heavyweight championship.
“We wish Bivol success and hereby confirm David Benavidez as WBC world light heavyweight champion.”
Ahead of Tuesday’s scheduled purse bid, Sulaiman has revealed that Benavidez, who is unbeaten in 30 fights and currently holds the interim title, has moved up to become the WBC champion.
A date is yet to be announced for the proposed trilogy, but Benavidez’s first title defence could come against Britain’s Callum Smith, the WBO interim light-heavyweight champion, who recorded a unanimous decision win over Joshua Buatsi in February.
