WBA light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol has his eyes set on greatness as he challenges for the undisputed title in 4 weeks’ time, however there’s one former foe who claims that he’s able to avenge defeat and rematch the Russian.
Bivol will tackle the one present world champion with a 100% knockout ratio when he fights unified title-holder Artur Beterbiev on June 1st – in what many really feel is a real 50/50 conflict and fairly presumably one of many bouts of the yr, headlining what’s undeniably set to be one of many occasions of the yr.
On that card is a former opponent of Dmitry Bivol’s in former British champion Craig Richards, who unsuccessfully challenged for the WBA title in 2021 on the Derek Chisora vs. Joseph Parker invoice in Manchester, shedding 115-114, 115-113, 118-110 on the judges’ scorecards.
To today, solely Canelo Alvarez has come as near Richards was to dethroning the undefeated technician and in an interview with Queensberry, Richards claims that he’s able to go one higher in a possible rematch.
“Yeah, 100%, [this version of Craig Richards beats Dmitry Bivol]. This Craig now, would destroy that Craig [that fought Bivol]. So, it that Craig was shut with him then, then I do know that I may do the identical with these guys [that Bivol has fought]. That’s what it’s about now, displaying what I’ve learnt and the brand new model of me.
“It’s one factor doing it within the gymnasium, clearly now I’m having extra success and I’ve introduced in plenty of outdated sparring companions that I sparred again then, to spar now.
“The success stage is totally completely different, however it’s one factor doing it within the gymnasium, it’s about implicating it on the evening. For me and myself, I wish to try to make it possible for I attempt to do what I’m doing within the gymnasium on combat nights. It is a crucial evening for myself.”
Regardless of the inactivity of ‘Spider’ Richards, who has fought simply as soon as since Could 2022, the Brit nonetheless finds himself ranked as excessive as sixth with the WBA and fifteenth with the WBC.
He’ll face Scotland’s Willy Hutchinson (17-1), who’s ranked seventh with each the WBC and the WBO, on the Beterbiev-Bivol undercard, in considered one of many perceived decide ‘em bouts on the ‘Matchroom versus Queensberry’ 5 versus 5 invoice in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Nonetheless, any potential rematch with Bivol would require Richards to go on a formidable successful streak, with David Benavidez, Oleksandr Gvozdyk and David Morrell manner above him within the pecking order.
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