Artur Beterbiev On Canelo Fight: “I’m Not Interested”

Artur Beterbiev says he’s not interested in a fight against Canelo Alvarez unless he had one of the belts at light heavyweight. The unified 175-lb champion Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) says he won’t fight Canelo just for the sake of fighting him without him holding a belt.

(Photo credit: Leigh Dawney/Queensberry Promotions)

Beterbiev would be a nightmare for Canelo due to his power, aggression and his high work rate. The inside fighting ability of Beterbiev would be too much for Canelo, who has never fought anyone like that during his career. He’s usually the one better on the inside, but is on another level.

Canelo has never shown any interest in facing Beterbiev, and it’s unlikely that he would move up to 175 to challenge him for the undisputed championship if he’s victorious against WBA champ Dmitry Bivol on Saturday night. Two years ago, Bivol defeated Canelo in Las Vegas by a close 12-round unanimous decision on May 7, 2022.

Canelo blamed his defeat on an injured hand, but fans saw it as a case of Bivol being too skilled, too big, and too well-conditioned for him. The Mexican star came across like a poor loser, unwilling to admit that he was out of his class against Bivol.

The guy that Canelo wants is Bivol (23-0, 12 KOs). However, it’s unknown if he’d want to fight him if Beterbiev knocks him out on Saturday night. Canelo wants the four belts at 175 to be on the line when he faces Bivol in a rematch, and it won’t be as interesting if he comes into the contest having been obliterated by Beterbiev.

This Saturday, October 12th, IBF, WBC, and WBO light heavyweight champion Beterbiev will face WBA champ Bivol for the undisputed championship at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The winner of the fight will hold all four titles and be viewed as the King of the division.

“Canelo is a lower category. I don’t want to go there,” said Artur Beterbiev to iFL TV when asked if he’d be interested in fighting Canelo Alvarez after his clash against Dmitry Bivol on Saturday night. “If he comes to my category and he has some belts in my category, yes, I have some interest. But just for nothing, I’m not interested.”