Eddie Hearn hopeful 'nice bloke' Dmitry Bivol can enjoy success before next steps

Eddie Hearn does not know what the future holds for "nice bloke" Dmitry Bivol, but has backed the star to win any rematch with Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez if that comes next.

The former claimed his revenge over Artur Beterbiev by majority decision at Riyadh Season's The Last Crescendo to become undisputed light heavyweight champion.

• Read more | Relive all the action from Riyadh Season's The Last Crescendo as Dmitry Bivol and Joseph Parker triumph

Success could set up a third bout between the pair, after Beterbiev triumphed in their first meeting last October, while David Benavidez is also touted as a possible foe.

For now however, Hearn is focused on letting the star reap the rewards of a bout he described as a "pursit fight" that saw him seize the opportunity to deliver.

"Dmitry is such a nice bloke, honestly," he told The Stomping Ground. "All he wanted was to become undisputed. That was his dream, to win all the belts.

"Imagine how happy he is going to be going home now. He's such a nice bloke. I like seeing people happy, I like seeing people work so hard and achieve something.

"Last time was a war, but it was still a purist fight. This time, there were more exchanges. Dmitry took more chances, and that's what he had to do in the fight to win it.

"I felt like in the last stages of the last fight, he didn't qutie take enough chances. I'm so proud of him. I think Canelo would be a huge underdog against Dmitry Bivol at 175.

"Let's be honest, the first fight against Canelo was very easy for Dmitry. I feel he's a much better fighter now than he was then.

"You're sitting pretty, aren't you? You've got every belt in the division. The danger now is that the mandatories will start coming. We'll have to see."

Bivol previously defeated Alvarez in 2022 by unanimous decision after the latter swapped divisions for the bout, one of the few blemishes on his record.

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