DUBLIN, Ireland – Eddie Hearn has claimed that there was never an offer on the table for Dmitry Bivol to face Artur Beterbiev in a trilogy bout.
The pair first faced off in October 2024, with Beterbiev edging a razor-close majority decision to lay claim to all four light heavyweight titles. Bivol won an immediate rematch four months later after another tight contest decided by close scorecards.
It seemed a trilogy was a must to settle the score between the two Russians, with Bivol even choosing to vacate his WBC title in order to pursue a rubber match with Beterbiev over a mandatory defense against David Benavidez. A third fight is yet to materialize, however.
Bivol had been suffering from a back injury since his second encounter with Beterbiev, and only returned in May after surgery with a 12-round shutout of overmatched IBF mandatory Michael Eifert.
Bivol was then ordered to defend his WBO belt against No.1 challenger Callum Smith and it appeared, for a while, that he would choose to vacate in light of a reported huge offer from the International Boxing Association (IBA) to stage Bivol-Beterbiev III in Russia.
However, it was reported by BoxingScene last month that Bivol will instead face Smith in Yekaterinburg, Russia on December 12.
This has brought backlash from some observers who claim Bivol is avoiding a trilogy with Beterbiev.
“It was never offered, by the way. If there was an offer that was even remotely reasonable, the Callum Smith fight wouldn’t be happening,” Hearn told BoxingScene.
“Dmitry Bivol would have vacated and fought Beterbiev, but I’m pleased that’s not the case because Callum’s shot is long overdue and that’s a great fight.”
So the reports of a huge offer from the IBA to stage the trilogy in Russia were false?
“We never received an offer or any communication from the IBA about that fight,” said Hearn.
Hearn, who promotes both Bivol and Smith, confirmed a fight with Beterbiev could be an option for the winner of the contest in December.
“We’ll see who wins that fight [between Bivol and Smith] and I think the winner will fight Benavidez or Beterbiev,” he said.
Beterbiev, however, has not fought since that February 2025 rematch loss to Bivol and Benavidez, for now, campaigns at cruiserweight.
