Is Bivol’s Strategic Delay a Clever Move for a Mega-Payday?

Artur Beterbiev voiced his frustrations yesterday on social media about the delaying tactics being used by unified light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol for their trilogy match. The former undisputed 175-lb champion Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) questions whether Bivol is delaying the fight to age him, making him beatable.

Bivol’s Choice: Money Fights Over Trilogy

What Beterbiev, 40, is failing to see is that Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) appears to be in a holding pattern, waiting for the outcome of the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford ‘Fight of the Century’ on September 13th.

Dmitry has an excellent chance of fighting Canelo in a rematch if he comes out victorious. Bivol already beat the Mexican star once in 2022. Recently. Alvarez said he’s open to a rematch. Even Crawford could be an option for Bivol if Turki Alalshikh offers the Omaha, Nebraska native enough money. Terence knows his chances of winning would be slim to none, but if Turki offers him $60 million for the fight, he’s not going to say no to a Bivol fight.

Financially, it’s in Bivol’s best interest to wait on the Canelo-Crawford outcome to get a bigger payday than he’d get fighting a grueling trilogy match against a 100% healthy Beterbiev that he might lose.

Looking at the 12th round of their second fight last February, where Artur had Bivol on the verge of being knocked out, you can understand why Dmitry would rather stall the trilogy out and go in the direction of a more lucrative payday against whoever emerges the winner of the Alvarez vs. Bud Crawford bout.

“He said in an interview that he wants to hold it in late autumn, then at the end of the year, and now it is completely unknown when. How old do I have to be so we can fight for the third time?” said Artur Beterbiev on Instagram about Dmitry Bivol.

Beterbiev Needs Bivol Reality Check

There’s more for Bivol to gain by delaying the risky Beterbiev to wait on the outcome of the Canelo-Crawford winner. The pot of gold for Bivol would be enormous in comparison to a third fight with Artur, which he would likely lose if Beterbiev is 100% healthy.

Bivol will eventually fight Beterbiev in a year or two, but by then, he’ll be 41 or 42 and less of a threat to beating him than now.