“It was never offered, by the way,” said Hearn during a media scrum reported by ProBox TV . “If there was an offer that was even remotely reasonable, the Callum Smith fight wouldn’t be happening. Dmitry would have vacated and fought Beterbiev.”
That version is difficult to reconcile with Kremlev’s account. The IBA president said negotiations had taken place with both camps and that Bivol was offered twice his previous purse. Kremlev also claimed Beterbiev was willing to box without taking a purse to help complete the trilogy.
The dispute may come down to the difference between vocal backing and an actionable contract. A public promise of enormous money is not the same as written terms containing a date, venue, broadcaster, payment schedule, guarantees, and regulatory responsibilities.
Beterbiev’s reported willingness to compete for free demonstrates his desire for the fight, but it does not provide a workable economic structure. His purse was only one part of the proposed event. Someone still had to guarantee Bivol’s money and cover the considerable production and promotional costs.
Mandatory obligations have also dismantled the undisputed championship created by their first two fights. Bivol relinquished the WBC belt rather than defend against David Benavidez, then satisfied his IBF requirement. Facing Smith under the WBO order would place another challenger between Bivol and the trilogy.
Smith provides a useful common opponent. Beterbiev stopped him in seven rounds in January 2024, overpowering the former super middleweight champion with sustained pressure. A clear Bivol victory would invite comparisons, although their contrasting styles make a direct measurement unreliable. Beterbiev broke Smith physically; Bivol would be more likely to dismantle him through distance, timing, and combinations.
Delay carries a heavier price for Beterbiev. He has not fought since losing the rematch in February 2025, while Bivol returned against Michael Eifert and is preparing for Smith. At 41, Beterbiev cannot recover lost time through another training camp.
If the trilogy is postponed until 2027, Beterbiev may have spent nearly two years outside the ring. The eventual fight would still sell, but it might no longer settle the rivalry under conditions resembling their first two meetings. What began as a 50-50 conclusion risks becoming a test of how much age and inactivity have taken from Beterbiev.
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