Eddie Hearn hasn’t stopped batting for one of his highly regarded British light heavyweight clients.
The Matchroom head suggested in a recent interview that he “would like” for London’s Joshua Buatsi to take on Russian WBA titlist Dmitry Bivol in the spring. It would easily be the toughest challenge of the young Briton’s career.
Bivol, who is also promoted by Hearn, is coming off a banner 2022 in which he collected wins over Canelo Alvarez and Gilberto Ramirez, and was named by many outlets as the clearcut fighter of the year. Bivol, indeed, was BoxingScene’s pick.
Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) appears headed toward a rematch with Alvarez in the fall, although it is not clear if it will be contested, like before, at the light heavyweight limit for Bivol’s strap, or at 168, where Alvarez owns all four belts in the division.
In the interim, Alvarez, who recently underwent left wrist surgery, may return in May against London’s John Ryder, leaving Bivol with the option to take on the well-regarded and undefeated Buatsi.
“Bivol will fight around the same time (as Alvarez), April, May,” Hearn told iFL TV. “I would like for him to fight Joshua Buatsi, OK? If he beats Joshua Buatsi, [Bivol] will fight Canelo Alvarez. If Joshua Buatsi wins, he will probably fight Canelo Alvarez. But that is the way the light heavyweights are playing out.”
Hearn was pushing for a Bivol-Buatsi fight last year, but he was overruled by the WBA, which ruled that Gilberto Ramirez, Bivol’s then mandatory, deserved to square off against the Russian. Hearn went so far as to submit a special request to bypass the mandate but he was ultimately unsuccessful. Bivol went on to soundly outpoint Ramirez over 12 rounds in November in Abu Dhabi.
Buatsi (16-0, 13 KOs), long regarded as one of Britain’s best talents, went toe-to-toe in a competitive fight with countryman Craig Richards last May. Buatsi won a close decision on the cards.
In the same interview, Hearn also said that he wants his other top light heavyweight charge, Callum Smith, to fight the winner of the upcoming title unification bout between WBC, WBO, IBF 175-pound champion Artur Beterbiev and Anthony Yard on Jan. 28 in London.