Dmitry Bivol's team looks toward a potential second showdown with Canelo Alvarez, rather than a mandatory title defense against David Benavidez, as the next move for the newly crowned undisputed champion at 175.
Promoter Frank Smith says the Canelo rematch is the most appealing option for both financial and stylistic reasons. The first time Bivol met Alvarez back in May 2022, the 6'1" Russian used his size and range to outbox the 5'8" Mexican star, claiming a unanimous decision in a fight many felt wasn't close on the scorecards. Smith notes a second meeting would generate huge revenue while favoring Bivol, who’s aware Canelo hasn't expressed any interest in returning to light heavyweight so far this year.
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Benavidez, meanwhile, has become the WBC’s mandatory challenger after Bivol unified the 175-pound titles in a two-fight series with Artur Beterbiev. Though the Mexican-American’s aggressive volume-punching style seems to clash badly with Bivol’s measured approach, sources close to Turki Alalshikh suggest a third Bivol-Beterbiev bout remains the first priority. If Bivol emerges with all four belts again, he’d likely be forced to face Benavidez unless Team Bivol opts for a Canelo rematch or chooses to vacate the WBC strap.
Canelo, for his part, has other plans in 2025 - a May 3 defense against William Scull for 168-pound supremacy, followed by a potential Terence Crawford super-fight in the fall. With no clear sign that Alvarez wants another go at 175, Bivol’s path to the ring with boxing’s biggest cash cow remains uncertain at best. Nonetheless, promoter Frank Smith remains optimistic: he believes Bivol has earned the right to call the shots now, whether that means a Canelo encore or another marquee challenge at light heavyweight.
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