Dmitry Bivol’s delicate heavyweight schedule is improving again, and the WBO’s latest move could delay both the trilogy with Artur Beterbiev and the fight that David Benavidez has publicly pushed for since his victory over Gilberto Ramirez.

The WBO confirmed this week that unified delicate heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol will be ordered to defend against interim titleholder Callum Smith after his May 30 fight against Michael Eifert in Russia. If the sanctioning body doesn’t change its stance, it will leave little room for the fight that Benavidez has been targeting since Bivol vacated the WBC belt earlier this year.

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Last updated: 22/05/2026 at 14:08

Terence Crawford shared his truthful thoughts on Canelo Alvarez’s fight with Christian Mbilli and wanted to see his former opponent come to his senses after their clash.

The couple had a quarrel in September last year Crawford declares victory by unanimous decision and cementing his greatness as the undisputed three-division champion.

Despite moving up two weight classes, “Bud” seemed content with the size difference compared to Canelo, who was ultimately vacated from his four super middleweight world titles.

However, in his next fight, Alvarez will be looking to reclaim one of the belts against Mbilla, who was elevated from “interim” to full WBC champion following Crawford’s retirement.

The Frenchman defended his “interim” title thanks to Canelo-Crawford’s indigent card, following a 10-round draw with undefeated rival Lester Martinez.

Known for his thunderous style, Mbilli is a solid opponent for Alvarez, who will face the 31-year-old on September 12 in Riyad, Saudi Arabia.

Given his achievements, the 35-year-old could have easily retired after the loss to Crawford, which meant time for an illustrious professional career that began in 2005.

But Crawford said DAZN Boxing that he understands the Mexican’s desire to get at least one more victory before finally calling it quits.

“I think it will be a great fight. Mbilli is putting a lot of pressure on himself. Canelo – we’ll see what form he comes in.

“Canelo is an all-time great fighter and I can’t wait to see him return to form [from the Crawford defeat].

“Knowing Canelo, he doesn’t want to end his career with a defeat. So I see Canelo wants to come back and prove his worth.”

A victory over Mbilli will certainly open further doors for Alvarez, who may even look to unify the 168-pound division by once again facing the winner of the Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Al Begic fight on next Saturday’s Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven fight card.

The video of him lifting Opetaia on the sand is pure gold for his image. Opetaia is a powerful cruiserweight, so seeing Crawford pick him up like a sack of potatoes shows that the ancient wrestling and incredible functional strength are still there. This gets people talking about how perilous he still is.

Crawford says he’s had enough, and maybe he really is. He has already dropped Jaron Ennis, which makes sense because he has nothing to prove against younger players. But while remaining close to Turki Alalshikh and these massive international events, he does not leave the door open. If a huge, ridiculously lucrative opportunity ever comes along that really interests him, it never really leaves the public eye. Just making sure that if he ever decides to accept the offer, the price remains astronomical.

This is the ultimate masterclass in staying relevant without risking anything. Crawford knows exactly how this industry works. If a retired fighter stays at home, the audience moves on to the next substantial thing within a few months, but when you fly to Egypt and find yourself in the middle of a massive season production in Riyad, you completely control the narrative.

Think about the calculations here. Crawford avoids juvenile, hungry challengers like Jaron Ennis who want to operate his legacy as a springboard, and yet he ensures he’s the most talked about guy on the sand, lifting an elite cruiserweight like Opetaia. It sends a noisy and clear signal to promoters and networks that Crawford remains a major physical force and box office attraction.

Standing shoulder to shoulder with heavyweights, Terence keeps his wrestling at the highest level. He sets himself up so that if he ever decides to lace up the gloves again, he won’t come back just for a standard payday loan.

BUD X OBETAIA 🤼

Just Terence Crawford and Jai Opetaia arguing in front of the Giza pyramids 😂

Glory in Giza | May 23 | LIVE on DAZN 🥊 pic.twitter.com/CXaV0rSgbm

— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) May 22, 2026