Light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol is ineligible to challenge for the World Boxing Council (WBC) title due to ongoing sanctions for Russian and Belarusian fighters, WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman said Monday. at ESPN.

The WBC, like other sports sanctioning bodies, chose not to recognize champions or rank fighters from these countries following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, for which Belarus is a key arena. .

This means Bivol would not be eligible to win the WBC belt in a potential undisputed light heavyweight bout against Artur Beterbiev.

“It’s absolutely sports oriented,” Sulaiman told ESPN. “There is no boxing in Ukraine because of the invasion. So as long as there is no boxing in Ukraine we cannot just ignore and say there is boxing in Russia or WBC Belarus.”

The sanctioning body’s president cited the regulation that was enacted at the WBC’s annual convention last year.

Beginning with a victory over Trent Broadhurst in 2017, Bivol has successfully defended the WBA 175-pound belt since the sanctioning body promoted him to champion. That run includes a convincing 2022 victory over Canelo Alvarez, the undisputed super middleweight champion.

Bivol’s nationality is listed as Russian in the WBA rankings. Beterbiev is also Russian and holds the other three major belts (IBF, WBC, WBO) at light heavyweight.

Sulaiman said fighters are eligible to request a review of their specific case. Regarding Beterbiev, Sulaiman said the WBC light heavyweight champion has lived in Canada for 15 years, holds a Canadian passport and holds a license from the Canadian Boxing Commission.

“That’s why the WBC specifically looked at Beterbiev and decided to take that into consideration,” Sulaiman told ESPN. “We had a few other requests. The world believes in peace and it’s very unfortunate to see what’s happening in this part of the world.”

Sulaiman said Bivol or on his behalf made no such request.

In 2022, the WBA banned the Russian and Belarusian flags from ring walks and removed those nationalities from pre-fight introductions, along with the ban on playing those countries’ national anthems.

Before Russia invaded Ukraine, Bivol’s hometown was listed as St. Petersburg, Russia. But in his last two fights, including the win over Alvarez, he was listed as residing in Indio, Calif.

Bivol has spoken out against the invasion, which Russia calls a “special military operation”.

“It’s really sad for me,” Bivol said at a press conference in March 2022. “Every day I wake up and read the news and hope it stops.”

Beterbiev and Bivol are considered the No. 1 and No. 2 fighters in the division, respectively, according to ESPN ratings. Beterbiev and Bivol’s next fight has not been announced.