Saudi Arabia boxing boss Turki Alalshikh appears to be teasing a potential bout between Dmitry Bivol and Jai Opetaia — both of whom have competed in the region in recent weeks.
Since defeating Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez in one of 2022's biggest wins, Bivol outpointed Gilberto Ramirez in Abu Dhabi, before decisioning Lyndon Arthur on December, 2023.
Opetaia, meanwhile, has taken the cruiserweight division by storm since scoring a unanimous decision win over Mairis Briedis in 2022, and following that with back-to-back knockout wins the following year over Jordan Thompson and Ellis Zorro.
That Zorro win was on the same Day of Reckoning card as Bivol's besting of Arthur, and though there is a weight class that separates them — with Bivol competing at light heavyweight — Alalshikh may get tongues wagging with one of his latest posts on X, the site formerly known as Twitter.
Here it is:
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) January 1, 2024
In the photo, Alalshikh can be seen holding hands with both Bivol and Opetaia, suggesting a fight in Riyadh could be forthcoming.
Alalshikh posted other photos featuring Day of Reckoning participants and promoters, including Deontay Wilder and Eddie Hearn, however, the one with Bivol and Opetaia was different as it featured boxers who, despite the obvious size difference, have discussed a fight with one another before.
When talking about Opetaia to Boxing News, Bivol said: "I want to finish business in my weight class — then we can make [that] fight."
Bivol has also been linked to long-time 175-pound rival Artur Beterbiev, who fights Callum Smith in Canada on January 13.
Per Dan Rafael, Bivol has already signed to fight in a title bout against Beterbiev though it is, as of yet, unclear when the match will take place.
For it to carry the same prestige it always has, Beterbiev will need to defeat Smith this month.
