Bivol Puts Beterbiev Trilogy at Risk Chasing WBO Title

Dmitry Bivol turned down a December trilogy fight with Artur Beterbiev in order to keep his WBO light heavyweight title, opting to defend the belt rather than run it back immediately with his biggest rival.

Instead of a third meeting with Beterbiev this year, Bivol will defend against Callum Smith on December 12 in Yekaterinburg. RCC Boxing head German Titov says the trilogy fight with Beterbiev is now being lined up for April 2027, with the promotion eyeing the new 8,000-seat RMK Arena in Chelyabinsk, Russia as the venue.

Why the Beterbiev Trilogy Is Getting Pushed Back

The math on this delay is rough on paper. Beterbiev turned 41 in January and will be closing in on 43 by an April 2027 date, meaning he'd go more than two years without fighting after his February 2025 rematch win over Bivol. That's an enormous chunk of inactivity for a fighter who has built his entire case on violence and volume, and it changes how any eventual trilogy would be judged. A Bivol win at that point invites an obvious question: did he beat a great version of Beterbiev, or an inactive 42-year-old several years removed from his prime?

The WBO angle adds another layer of risk. This is the same sanctioning body that previously wouldn't approve a Bivol defense against Michael Eifert on Russian soil, which means Bivol is bending his schedule around an organization that has already shown it can complicate his plans on short notice. Vacating the WBO strap would have let the Beterbiev trilogy stay on a late 2026 timeline. Bivol chose the belt instead.

The Callum Smith Fight Is Not a Gimme

Before any of the Beterbiev business matters, Bivol (25-1, 12 KOs) has to get through Callum Smith (31-2, 22 KOs) on December 12, and that fight carries its own complications. Bivol had elbow surgery in July, and his entire style runs through that lead arm. His jab sets the distance, controls the pace and opens the door for his combinations. If that elbow isn't fully right, Smith is built to make him pay for it. Smith is a rangy 6-foot-3 with a heavy counter left hook, exactly the kind of shot that punishes a fighter who's the slightest bit tentative extending that arm.

Betting Angle

Bivol will likely open as the favorite against Smith given his standing atop the light heavyweight division, but this is not a fight the books or bettors should treat as a formality. A surgically repaired lead arm against a durable, heavy-handed puncher with a five inch height advantage over Bivol's usual opponents is the kind of matchup that narrows a line faster than the name recognition gap suggests. Anyone betting Bivol here is also betting on the health of that elbow holding up over 12 rounds, and that's a real variable, not just an afterthought before the "bigger" trilogy fight everyone wants to see.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why isn't Dmitry Bivol fighting Artur Beterbiev again right away?

Dmitry Bivol chose to defend his WBO light heavyweight title instead of taking an immediate trilogy fight, and RCC Boxing's German Titov says the Beterbiev trilogy is now being targeted for April 2027.

Who is Dmitry Bivol fighting on December 12?

Dmitry Bivol is scheduled to defend his title against Callum Smith on December 12 in Yekaterinburg before any Artur Beterbiev trilogy can happen.

Where would a Bivol vs. Beterbiev trilogy take place?

The proposed Dmitry Bivol vs. Artur Beterbiev trilogy is being eyed for the new 8,000-seat RMK Arena in Chelyabinsk, Russia.