Dmitry Bivol has dismissed a possible rematch with Canelo Alvarez, ahead of his bid to become undisputed light heavyweight champion.
Bivol rose to prominence when he secured a dominant unanimous decision victory over Canelo in Las Vegas in May 2022, to retain his WBA light heavyweight crown.
A rematch was floated after the bout, but Alvarez opted to move back down to super middleweight, having suffered the second defeat of his professional career and his first since losing to Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2013.
The four-weight world champion has won five on the spin since, outpointing Edgar Berlanga last month to retain his unified WBA, WBO and IBF super middleweight world titles.
Bivol, who faces unified WBC, WBO and IBF champion, Beterbiev for the undisputed crown on October 12 in Riyadh, insists he is no longer interested in facing the Mexican, who he feels has missed his opportunity.
“He had the chance to make [a] rematch,” the 33-year-old told FightHype.com.
“He didn’t take this chance.
“He didn’t even negotiate about it and now the subject is closed.
“I have my own way. He has his own way in super middleweight.
“I’m a light heavyweight.
“Just different weights.”
Since overcoming Alvarez, the unbeaten Russian has won three consecutive fights, the last a sixth round TKO over Malik Zinad in June, also in Riyadh.
The pair were supposed to meet on June 1, however Beterbiev pulled out with a knee injury.
The 39-year-old is undefeated in 20 professional bouts, all ending by knockout, however Bivol insists he is not focusing on his rival’s fearsome knockout ratio.
Bivol added: “I’m trying to not pay attention too much to things like, ‘he has amazing power, he’s a dangerous fighter.’
“I’m not trying to pay attention to [people saying] he’s old now.
“I’m just trying to pay attention to think what he’s doing in the ring, to his skills, that’s it and I’m trying to pay attention to what my coach says.”
