Bivol-Beterbiev trilogy targeted for April 2027 in Chelyabinsk

A third fight between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev is being targeted for April 2027 at the new RMK Arena in Chelyabinsk, according to RCC Boxing Promotions chief executive German Titov.

The plan depends first on Bivol retaining his unified light-heavyweight titles against Callum Smith on December 12 in Yekaterinburg. The WBO must also permit its belt to be contested in Russia before that mandatory defence can proceed at the proposed venue.

Titov told the ‘Dovish Borca 5’ podcast that Bivol-Beterbiev III could serve as the opening event at the 8,000-capacity RMK Arena. The venue, which is under construction and expected to be completed in the spring, is being designed to stage basketball, volleyball and combat sports.

RCC had considered staging the trilogy elsewhere in Russia this December, Titov said, but that would have required Bivol to give up his WBO title rather than fulfil his mandatory obligation against Smith. Bivol instead chose to retain the belt and face the WBO’s No.1 contender.

Bivol and Smith have agreed terms, although the location remains subject to WBO approval. The sanctioning body did not allow Bivol’s title to be defended on Russian soil when he outpointed IBF mandatory challenger Michael Eifert over 12 rounds in May.

The Eifert fight was Bivol’s first appearance since undergoing back surgery and his first since beating Beterbiev in February 2025. He had been dealing with the injury since their rematch and spent more than a year out of the ring before returning.

Bivol and Beterbiev are tied at one victory apiece after two closely contested majority decisions in Saudi Arabia. Beterbiev won their first meeting in October 2024 to become the undisputed light-heavyweight champion, but Bivol reversed the result four months later.

Bivol subsequently vacated the WBC title rather than make a mandatory defence against David Benavidez, with a third fight against Beterbiev his preferred option. In July , Bivol and his manager, Vadim Kornilov, instructed promoter Eddie Hearn to open discussions with IBA president Umar Kremlev or RCC about staging the trilogy.

The two camps have offered different accounts of why the fight did not happen sooner. Beterbiev criticised Bivol’s lack of urgency last year and said his rival had rejected the bout. Hearn later denied that Bivol had received a firm proposal before committing to the Smith defence.

“It was never offered, by the way. If there was an offer that was even remotely reasonable, the Callum Smith fight wouldn’t be happening,” Hearn told BoxingScene. “Dmitry Bivol would have vacated and fought Beterbiev, but I’m pleased that’s not the case because Callum’s shot is long overdue and that’s a great fight.”

Addressing reports of an IBA-backed offer to stage the trilogy in Russia, Hearn added: “We never received an offer or any communication from the IBA about that fight.”

Beterbiev has not boxed since losing the rematch in February 2025. Hearn has named him as one of the possible opponents for the winner of Bivol-Smith, alongside Benavidez, who is currently campaigning at cruiserweight.

“We’ll see who wins that fight [between Bivol and Smith] and I think the winner will fight Benavidez or Beterbiev,” Hearn said.

For the Chelyabinsk plan to advance, Bivol must secure WBO approval for the December 12 defence and defeat Smith. RCC’s proposed date also depends on the RMK Arena being completed in time for its planned opening in April 2027.