Eddie Hearn wants to take the undisputed light heavyweight clash between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev to Abu Dhabi this summer.
But he has declared that Joshua Buatsi is ready to step in should the holy month of Ramadan would preclude Beterbiev from boxing in May or June.
The clamor for WBA champion Bivol to face WBC, IBF and WBO king Beterbiev heightened last month after the latter stopped his mandatory challenger Anthony Yarde in London.
However, it has been reported that undefeated Londoner Buatsi has now agreed a deal to face Bivol in May.
Hearn, who currently promotes Buatsi and put on Bivol’s last fight in Abu Dhabi, insists that is not the case but has explained the complex situation which he is currently trying to maneuver at light heavyweight.
And he confirmed that his preferred date could come too soon for Beterbiev, a devout Muslim, who will be fasting during Ramadan which runs from March 22 through April 21.
Hearn, too, confirmed that his plan is still to deliver Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez the rematch with Bivol in September, which could open the door for Buatsi but further damage any hope of a four-belt unification at light-heavyweight.
“Someone told me that we’ve signed for the Bivol-Buatsi fight but that’s not true,” Hearn said.
“We want him to fight Dmitry Bivol but we are in talks for Bivol to fight Canelo in September, or Beterbiev in June if he’s ready to fight off the back of Ramadan.
“That could be one for Abu Dhabi, it would be a great fight for Abu Dhabi. We did Bivol’s last fight there.
“But if Beterbiev isn’t ready it’s very likely that Bivol will fight in May or early June against Buatsi and then if he wins he will fight Canelo in September.
“I can’t get Canelo to stop talking about that rematch, he is just desperate for that rematch. He will fight John Ryder in May first.
“If Bivol ends up fighting Buatsi that would probably land in America but I’d be open to doing it in the UK.”
Hearn also addressed the current contractual situation with Buatsi, who has been a Matchroom fighter since he turned professional following the 2016 Olympics.
It has been suggested that Buatsi is about to jump ship, with the other major UK promoters circling. But Hearn says he still holds matching rights and has no intention of letting him leave.
“He has matching rights within his agreement which we are going to exercise,” Hearn added.
“Matching rights means we would have to match whatever offer he gets. He’s under contract with matching rights, although his fights with us are up.
“So if someone offers him a deal, we have to match it, or he is able to go with them – but ultimately we will match whatever he is offered.
“We are anticipating an offer from Sky that we would have to match. Maybe from Frank Warren and BT too.”