“I really want the rubber match,” said Beterbiev on DAZN’s Inside The Ring. “I think everyone wants [the] rubber match, and I feel good. If you want to check if I’m good or not, make this fight happen, and I will show you.”
Beterbiev and Bivol are tied at one victory apiece following their two undisputed championship fights. Beterbiev insists he should be entering a third meeting with a 2-0 advantage.
“I believe I won the second fight better than the first one,” Beterbiev said. “For sure, the third fight is going to happen [and] I’ll do better than both of them.”
The 41-year-old also suggested that Bivol has not been eager to finalize a third fight despite widespread interest in the matchup.
“I’m expecting the third fight to happen in minimum five or six months,” Beterbiev said, “but he doesn’t want to fight.”
Interest has continued to grow in a potential clash between Beterbiev and Benavidez, who recently became a three-division world champion by stopping Gilberto Ramirez to capture the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles.
Beterbiev said he remains open to facing Benavidez in the future, but only after completing unfinished business with Bivol.
“I respect what Benavidez did already in boxing,” Beterbiev said. “He became a three-category world champion, and I’m not avoiding this kind of fights with Benavidez or someone else. First, I’m more focused to do rubber match [versus Bivol].”
Bivol currently holds The Ring, WBA, IBF, and WBO light heavyweight titles after defeating Michael Eifert on May 30 in Ekaterinburg, Russia. No date has been announced for a third fight between Bivol and Beterbiev.
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