Bivol handed Alvarez his first loss in eight-plus years in 2022, retaining his WBA 175-pound title by a close, but clear decision. Then they went their separate ways, Bivol ultimately becoming undisputed light heavyweight champion and Alvarez dropping back down to 168.

Alvarez doesn't believe their rivalry is necessarily over, however.

“No,” Alvarez told The Ring’s Rick Reeno on the Mr. Verzace Podcast when asked whether the door is closed to another meeting with his conqueror.

When might it happen? That's anyone's guess.

Bivol is coming off back-to-back fights against another rival, Artur Beterbiev, losing the first bout and a chance to become undisputed champion by a split decision and then winning the second fight, also by a majority decision, to realize his goal.

The Russian then had successful back surgery, from which he is still recovering. He expects to face IBF mandatory challenger Michael Eifert sometime in the spring. After that, he could restart negotiations with Beterbiev on a rubber match, turn to Alvarez or, of course, go another direction.

Meanwhile, Alvarez is looking to bounce back after a unanimous decision loss to Terence Crawford that cost him his super middleweight titles in September. He won't face Bivol in his comeback fight, but he sees a rematch as a viable option down the road.

“Why not? We’ll see in the future. If it makes sense, why not? I always like challenges,” Alvarez said. “So why not? Maybe.”