Bivol has been sidelined since undergoing back surgery last August, which prevented him from facing Beterbiev in a third bout following their closely contested two-fight series.
“We don’t believe that offer was real at all, and obviously, also, we have a contract with Riyadh Season,” Hearn told Fight Hub TV when asked about claims that Bivol had turned down a trilogy offer in Russia.
Hearn added that Bivol’s physical condition would have made a fight in Russia unrealistic during his recovery period.
Beterbiev and Benavidez Fights Pushed Back
“Right now, we have mandatories, and Bivol has been out of the ring for a year coming up,” Hearn said. “So it’s very likely he’ll come back and fight one of his mandatories before fighting Benavidez or, particularly, a third fight with Beterbiev. I expect to see Bivol back in the spring.”
Returning from a lengthy layoff directly into a trilogy bout or a title fight against Benavidez is not expected to be the preferred route, with Hearn indicating that Bivol will first need a tune-up defense before moving into one of the division’s marquee matchups.
“I think he’ll come back, having been out for a year, and fight one of his mandatories,” Hearn said. “Then, a few months after that, he’ll fight Beterbiev or Benavidez.”
