IBA President Umar Kremlev believes a crowd of 100,000 could turn out for a third fight between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev.
The world’s two best light heavyweights have fought each other twice in the last five months with the rivalry sitting at one win apiece and both fights going the 12-round distance.
On Saturday night in Riyadh Bivol, 24-1 (12 KOs), avenged his first professional loss in October beating Beterbiev, 21-1 (20 KOs), by majority decision. The verdict now sees Bivol as the undisputed champion at 175lbs ending Beterbiev’s short reign.
Beterbiev has said he wants a third fight while Turki Alalshikh, the man behind all the big fights in Saudi Arabia, is keen to make a rubber match as well. Speaking to Boxing News yesterday the new champion mentioned the possibility of moving to cruiserweight, dropping down to super middleweight and fighting Canelo Alvarez once again or taking on Beterbiev for a third time.
Kremlev, meanwhile, has thrown his hat into the ring and wants to bring the trilogy bout to Russia.
“I think we need the third fight between Artur and Dmitry, as we have just witnessed no less than the event of the year and we need to repeat it,” he said.
“These guys are truly the best boxers in the weight division. Whatever the cost, we will bring this fight to Moscow, and we are starting the negotiations. I envision it at Luzhniki stadium with nearly 100,000 people crowd.”
