Boxing

Bivol and Smith ordered to purse bids amid Beterbiev trilogy talk

DAZN

22, Aug

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Dmitry Bivol and Callum Smith are headed to a purse bid amid speculation over an Artur Beterbiev trilogy for the former.

The unified light-heavyweight champion had been ordered to take on the Briton as his WBO mandatory foe last month.

Despite an extension to negotiations, no deal has been finalised, with questions over the next move for both men now.

WBO president Gustavo Olivieri confirmed purse bids wouldbe scheduled for August 27 - but Bivol could yet vacate too.

The star has long been linked to a trilogy with former undisputed champion Beterbiev after the pair's gripping duology.

It has been suggested therefore that Bivol could drop the WBO strap in order to clear the path towards that encounter.

If so, it would be expected that ex-WBA super-middleweight champion Smith would face Joshua Buatsi for the belt.

The British pair previously met on the Beterbiev-Bivol II undercard, where the former took a unanimous decision win.

Will Bivol and Smith come to the table?

There's been no shortage of long-running sagas this summer across the boxing world, especially with big fights at hand.

In a sense, the back-and-forth between Dmitry Bivol and Callum Smith has somewhat flown under the radar as a result.

But make no mistake, news of a purse bid will effectively place each man into put-up-or-shut-up territory on any encounter.

Bivol, of course, would love to retain his belts. But if he wants the money and the name, an Artur Beterbiev trilogy tops that.

For Smith, the Briton has made no secret of his desire to face Bivol. But the title is paramount - and he will face whoever for it.

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