Benavidez is set to jump to cruiserweight this weekend to face Gilberto Ramirez, but the expectation is that he will return to 175 pounds afterward to pursue the undisputed champion Bivol. The fight has been widely discussed, though it is not fully in Bivol’s control.
Eddie Hearn said Dmitry Bivol may still be tied to a third fight with Artur Beterbiev if that bout is ordered.
“I think that Benavidez-Bivol is a great fight, but we have got this kind of loose obligation with the Beterbiev III fight which, if it is called upon, we have to take it,” Hearn said to Fighthype.
“But, if it is not, Benavidez is absolutely the fight. I think that’s a brilliant fight, it’s two pound-for-pound guys.
“I do think that Benavidez will beat Ramirez and if that is the case, should Dmitry come through on May 30, which we expect him to do, why not make the Benavidez fight?”
Bivol is scheduled to defend two of his titles against Michael Eifert next month, while Beterbiev is considering a return bout of his own ahead of a possible trilogy.
Realistically, if the Bivol-Beterbiev trilogy happens in late 2026, we are looking at mid-to-late 2027 before the winner is physically ready for a monster fight against Benavidez.
We are dealing with two elite fighters whose bodies are starting to protest the demands of championship camps.
Beterbiev has already dealt with a ruptured meniscus and various muscle injuries that have sidelined him for long stretches. Even if he wins a trilogy, a 41-year-old body does not bounce back in four months after 12 rounds with Bivol.
While younger at 35, the back surgery Bivol underwent in August 2025 to repair a herniated disk is a major red flag. Back issues are notorious for lingering, and his upcoming May 30 fight against Michael Eifert is really a test to see if his movement and power are still there.
