Turki Alalshikh's Ambitious Plan: Beterbiev-Bivol Winner Eyes Cruiserweight Clash with Opetaia
Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, has laid out an intriguing proposal for Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol after their anticipated light heavyweight title unification bout. Alalshikh envisions the winner of Beterbiev vs. Bivol moving up in weight to face undefeated cruiserweight Jai Opetaia. Opetaia recently showcased his prowess by knocking out Ellis Zorro, and Alalshikh sees the potential for a compelling matchup against the victor of the Beterbiev-Bivol clash. In an interview with DAZN’s Ade Oladipo, Alalshikh expressed his eagerness for this sequence of fights, emphasizing the desire for fans to witness the showdown. "The people need to see Artur-Bivol,” Alalshikh stated. “I want to see the [winner] of Artur and Bivol [fight] against Opetaia. You understand me? Yeah, this is what I hope to have. We need to see this fight." Alalshikh's ambition extends beyond just proposing matchups, as he updates on the ongoing negotiations for the Beterbiev-Bivol battle. While acknowledging the significance of Tyson Fury versus Oleksandr Usyk, Alalshikh emphasizes the massive appeal of Beterbiev and Bivol from a fan's perspective. "As a fan, Artur and Bivol is huge," Alalshikh said. "Maybe in some [regions] doesn’t have a lot of pay-per-view [interest]. I understand this. And this is why a lot of promoters don’t take the risk because this will cost a lot. But we take the risk, and we talk with them." Alalshikh acknowledges the logistical challenges, considering Artur Beterbiev's religious observance of Ramadan and the need to give him ample time to prepare. Nevertheless, the prospect of this high-stakes matchup adds another layer of excitement to the already fervent boxing landscape. #TurkiAlalshikh #BeterbievBivol #OpetaiaChallenge #BoxingTalks
