Beterbiev has unfinished business with Bivol after they split their first two fights. On the latest episode of “Inside The Ring,” which premiered Monday on DAZN, Beterbiev said he prefers settling the score next against the unified light heavyweight champion rather than facing Benavidez next.

“I really want the rubber match,” Beterbiev said. “I think everyone wants [the] rubber match, and I feel good. If you want to check if I’m good or not, make this fight happen and I will show you.“

Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) and Bivol (25-1, 12 KOs) alternated majority decisions to become the undisputed light heavyweight champion between their two fights. Beterbiev, 41, won the first bout in October 2024, while Bivol, 35, emerged victorious in the rematch in February 2025.

“I believe I won the second fight better than the first one,” Beterbiev said. “For sure, the third fight is going to happen [and] I’ll do better than both of them.”

Beterbiev, of Khasavyurt, Russia, hasn’t fought since the rematch. Bivol, who holds The Ring, IBF, WBA and WBO titles, has fought once, beating mandatory challenger Michael Eifert by dominant unanimous decision May 30 in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

Bivol, who has long resided in Russia, is ranked No. 6 on The Ring’s pound-for-pound list.

Beterbiev, who was on The Ring’s pound-for-pound list before being removed due to inactivity, hopes the third bout against Bivol will happen soon.

“I’m expecting the third fight to happen in minimum five or six months,” Beterbiev said, “but he doesn’t want to fight.”

Benavidez, who is The Ring’s No. 5-ranked fighter pound-for-pound and The Ring’s No. 1 contender in the light heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions, became the WBC light heavyweight champion after Bivol vacated the title in April 2025.

The 29-year-old Phoenix, Arizona, native defended the title once, stopping Anthony Yarde in the seventh round November 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He then won the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles thanks to a sixth-round stoppage of Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez on May 2 in Las Vegas.

Beterbiev said he was supposed to face Demond Nicholson on the same card that Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) defeated Yarde (27-4, 24 KOs), but that fight fell through. Benavidez and Beterbiev fighting and winning on the same card likely would have set the stage for them to fight next.

Beterbiev added he’d still like to face Benavidez, but his sights are firmly on Bivol first.

“I respect what Benavidez did already in boxing,” Beterbiev said. “He became a three-category world champion, and I’m not avoiding this kind of fights with Benavidez or someone else. First, I’m more focused to do rubber match [versus Bivol].”