Kathy Duva, promoter of WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev, said that after his March fight against Igor Mikhalkin, her team could hold the next meeting against IBF title holder Artur Beterbiev, and only then go for the winner of Dmitry Bivol - Sullivan Barrera.
âI wouldnât assume itâs next,â Duva said. âItâs down the line. I wouldnât assume itâs next. I donât know whatâs next. There are a lot of other possibilities. For example, thereâs that Beterbiev fight hanging out there that Sergey really, really wants, and is an equally intriguing fight. That could occur first. Who knows?
âThe thing about the division is there are so many good fights there. And itâs just a matter of coming up with the timing or the money or whatever it takes to make them happen, which weâre gonna try our best to do.â
âSergey wants it very much,â Duva said. âMy understanding is Beterbiev wants it very much. At the moment, heâs in dispute with his promoter. Until he resolves that, itâs impossible to make that fight because I donât know who to make it with. I think that once that gets resolved, once we know who to talk to, then weâll see if we can make it. But I know the fighters want it, and thatâs usually the thing that makes the fight happen, when the fighters really want it. And I know for a fact that they both do, so thatâs a good start.â
