Talks have begun for a Dmitry Bivol vs. David Benavidez fight for the undisputed light heavyweight championship, promoter Eddie Hearn said, opening the door to a matchup that would put all four major belts at 175 pounds on the line.
Hearn said discussions have already taken place with Benavidez’s co-promoter, Luis De Cubas, and said the fight would become more likely if both men win their upcoming May bouts. Bivol holds the WBA, IBF and WBO titles at 175 pounds, while Benavidez owns the WBC belt, setting up a rare title consolidation fight if the path clears.
Benavidez is scheduled to face Gilberto Ramirez on May 2 in Las Vegas, a move that takes him into cruiserweight against the unified WBA and WBO champion. Bivol is set to defend against Michael Eifert on May 30 in Russia. If both fighters get through those dates, the division could finally have a direct route to one undisputed champion.
Hearn framed the talks as a marker of ambition as much as strategy, saying his side wants fighters who are willing to chase greatness, unify belts and become multi-weight world champions. Benavidez moved to the top of the light heavyweight division earlier in the year, and a win over Ramirez would be his first loss if it comes against the man known as Zurdo Ramirez.
The tension is straightforward: the fight is being discussed before either boxer has cleared the hurdle that would make it possible. That makes the May schedule the real gatekeeper for a bout boxing fans have wanted to see, and it leaves the sport waiting on two separate nights before the biggest name in the division can be crowned.
