Dmitry Bivol has outlined three potential opponents for 2027, but must first defend his light-heavyweight titles against Callum Smith on December 12.
The 35-year-old comes off a dominant unanimous decision victory over Michael Eifert in May, returning from a 15-month absence to retain his IBF, WBO and WBA straps.
Prior to that, he became the undisputed 175lb king with a monumental majority decision triumph over Artur Beterbiev, who had edged their first encounter by the exact same margins in October 2024.
Now, though, Bivol must prove that he remains an elite-level operator against former world super-middleweight champion Smith, with their encounter set to take place in Yekaterinburg, Russia.
If he emerges victorious then the Russian could target a trilogy showdown with Beterbiev, or perhaps even a rematch with Canelo Alvarez, who was unanimously outpointed when they locked horns in 2022.
From a general fans’ perspective, however, the most appealing opponent for Bivol might be David Benavidez, who became a three-division world champion by dethroning Gilberto Ramirez with a sixth-round stoppage in May.
In doing so, the ‘Mexican Monster’ claimed the WBO and WBA cruiserweight titles and looks set to remain at 200lb, though Bivol has nonetheless told Inside The Ring that he would gladly face the 29-year-old.
“I will tell you which fights are big for me now, and I think people will agree: this is Beterbiev, this is Canelo and this is Benavidez. I think only with these fighters we can make a big fight.”
With Benavidez expected to face WBC cruiserweight champion Michal Cieslak on December 5, a victory could then launch him towards a Cinco de Mayo showdown with Jai Opetaia in 2027.
