By Steve Kim
Dmitry Bivol, who faces Cedric Agnew as part of the pay-per-view card this Saturday night from the Mandalay Bay that features the rematch between Sergey Kovalev and Andre Ward, is currently the interim WBA light heavyweight titlist.
The 'regular' version of this title is held by Nathan Cleverly of Wales. The WBA 'super' version of the title is held by Ward.
When asked when Bivol (10-0, 8 KO's) might get his shot at the title, his manager Vadim Kornilov (the head of Vkmanagement) told BoxingScene.com - "I think definitely by the end of the year the (WBA) resolution will happen. Can we get Cleverly or not, that's a big question. I don't think Cleverly wants the fight and I think he will avoid the fight. I think he will figure out a way to try and say he wants to go to another weight class or do something else."
Cleverly (30-3, 16 KO's), who once held the WBO 175-pound title before getting stopped by Kovalev in four rounds in 2013, captured the WBA belt by defeating Juergen Braehmer via technical decision in six rounds back in October. Cleverly has been inactive since then.
Bivol won the interim title by halting Samuel Clarkson in four rounds back in April 14th in Oxon Hill, Maryland, putting him in line to face Cleverly.
"But I don't think he wants to fight Bivol and that's OK with us, we'll fight somebody else for the title," stated Kornilov.
Cleverly's promoter, Eddie Hearn, stated last week that's trying to finalize a fight with former super middleweight champion Badou Jack, who vacated his WBC title earlier this year to make a move to light heavyweight. Jack is promoted by Mayweather Promotions.
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.