Eddie Hearn says Dmitry Bivol vs. David Benavidez is the fight to make, with early talks already taking place between Matchroom and PBC.
Bivol is set to defend his IBF light heavyweight title against Michael Eifert on May 30 in Ekaterinburg, Russia. The bout is a mandatory defense, but Hearn believes Bivol will want bigger fights once that obligation is handled.
Benavidez has just made a major statement at cruiserweight, stopping Gilberto Ramirez in Las Vegas to become a three-division titlist. Despite talk of even bigger weight jumps, Hearn sees Bivol as the most logical elite opponent.
“We’ve been speaking to Luis DeCubas and PBC,” Hearn said. “We like Bivol-Benavidez.”
Hearn believes the matchup carries major value for both fighters, especially with Bivol still viewed as the leading name at light heavyweight and Benavidez now bringing momentum from another division.
“I think it’s a big, big fight,” Hearn said. “Dmitry’s going to want to be in big fights… and I think Bivol-Benavidez is the fight to make.”
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