Turki Alalshikh on Friday said that he holds no interest in fighting Bivol and David Benavidez as ordered by the WBC last Wednesday and plans to skip the purse bid process altogether.
“I am no longer interested in Bivol-Benavidez and I will not bid on it,” Alalshikh said.
“I think Bivol knows who has delivered for him and who hasn’t. My advice to Bivol: don’t be late because every day something changes.” he added.
Bivol has competed in the city of Riyadh throughout his previous four battles with his most recent two matchups against Artur Beterbiev.
The 34-year-old fighter turned around his previous defeat by majority decision to his Russian fellow with another majority decision win last month.
The WBC issued Bivol and Benavidez a 30-day negotiation period before ordering the purse bids for April 8.
A different path choice by Bivol would enable the WBC to take away his title and push Benavidez to the position of full champion.
However, taking away the headlining match Benavidez wants would occur because he previously failed to make Saul “Canelo” Alvarez agree to fight at 168lbs.
Bivol&s promoter, Frank Smith has expressed to set Bivol against Alvarez again as opposed to making Bivol fight his WBC mandatory opponent Benavidez.
Smith favours matching Bivol against Canelo because it delivers greater revenue and offers better chances of victory to Bivol.
Bivol won against Canelo through a unanimous decision after 12 rounds of their match on May 7, 2022.
“The other fight out there is Canelo Alvarez. I’m not saying that’s the next fight. He’s got his own plans, but what a fight that is,” Smith said.
“Dmitry Bivol is a special fighter. I don’t personally think that’s the fight, but who knows. He’ll fight anyone. There are British fights as well for Callum Smith and Anthony Yarde.” Smith added.
