Bivol, Beterbiev, Azeez Rematch – Who Next For Buatsi?

Dmitry Bivol

By winning the WBA title eliminator against Azeez, Buatsi is officially the next in line to face WBA champion Bivol. The Russian (22-0-0 11 KOs) has become one of boxing’s leading pound-for-pound stars after putting the sport on notice with a clinical points win over Canelo Alvarez in May 2022. Since then, Bivol has delivered emphatic victories over Gilberto Ramirez and Lyndon Arthur. 

Bivol, 33, would represent a massive step up in class to any fighter Buatsi has previously faced – although the same could be said of anyone taking on the Russian. He’s that good.

However, because of the June 1 showdown with Beterbiev, which will be for all four light-heavyweight world titles, Buatsi could end up fighting for more than only the WBA belt. 

Artur Beterbiev

One of the most fearsome punchers in all of boxing, Beterbiev has made a recent habit of knocking out British fighters. His last two wins came in stoppages against Buatsi’s compatriots, Anthony Yarde and Callum Smith. His record currently stands at a perfect 20 wins with 20 knockouts. 

Beterbiev possesses the WBC, WBO, and IBF light-heavyweight titles – all of which Buatsi is a leading contender to challenge for – and could add the WBA strap when he faces Bivol in Saudi Arabia. 

If the Russian does beat his compatriot on June 1, then Buatsi will be the mandatory challenger for the WBA title, while also fighting for Beterbiev’s other three straps. 

Dan Azeez Rematch

The prospect of an undisputed title fight between Bivol and Beterbiev could go one of three ways for Buatsi. Either he gets the opportunity of a lifetime to fight the winner for all four belts, the fight ends in a draw and he fights Bivol for the WBA title, or the fight is an overwhelming success and the Saudis decide to run it back, leaving Buatsi either waiting for his title shot or fighting for a vacant belt. 

If the third option plays out, Buatsi would no doubt be at the head of the line to fight for a vacant title, and the most appealing match-up would be a rematch with Azeez. 

Saturday’s fight in London was a thriller and if a rematch had the increased stakes of a world title, it would be sure to generate a huge amount of interest in the UK, which in turn would secure lucrative paydays for Buatsi and Azeez. 

Even if a belt does not get vacated and Bivol and Beterbiev still engage in a rematch, Buatsi will need to fight again by the summer, and a rematch with Azeez makes sense from all sides. 

Callum Smith

Another domestic rival operating at the top of the light-heavyweight standings is Liverpool’s Smith. The former super-middleweight world champion made the step up to light-heavyweight after losing his titles to Canelo Alvarez in December 2020. But after two wins in the division, Smith suffered a brutal stoppage defeat to Beterbiev last time out in January. 

Smith remains a big name in the UK so a domestic battle with Buatsi would certainly hold appeal. Whether Buatsi would be keen on the fight and risk his world title shot would be another matter.