DMITRY BIVOL could be set for a voluntary defence of his WBA light-heavyweight title against Lyndon Arthur this winter.
Talks have opened regarding a clash between the number one-ranked Bivol and Manchester’s Arthur, 23-1 (16).
Bivol has not boxed since a unanimous decision victory over Gilberto Ramirez in Abu Dhabi in November and he had been hoping to secure a mouth-watering undisputed clash with Artur Beterbiev this year.
However, that fight has not come to fruition, with Beterbiev instead agreeing to take on mandatory challenger Callum Smith. This, in turn, has meant Bivol has had to look elsewhere for an opponent and Boxing News understands Matchroom have made contact with Wasserman, who promote Arthur, about a potential clash. Should that fight go ahead, it would likely take place in America in December and would be broadcast live on DAZN.
Arthur is fresh from stopping Braian Suarez in the 10th round of a fight in Bolton on September 1 and is now on the hunt for a bigger name. However, should Matchroom and Wasserman fail to reach an agreement for the bout, it is likely that Arthur will face Craig Richards later this year.
Richards has been missing since he lost to Joshua Buatsi in May 2022 and has endured a hugely frustrating, injury-affected spell on the sidelines. But he is now fit again and desperate to fight, with Arthur an option should Bivol choose a different opponent.
If talks regarding Bivol-Arthur progress well, a fight against Northern Ireland-born Australian Conor Wallace is on the cards for Richards.
