“My personal goal right now is this guy Benavidez, who, let’s just say, talks a lot. We’ll see what he’s really made of. I’d like him to stop running his mouth. For that to happen, someone has to get in the ring with him and shut it for good,” said Dmitry Bivol trainer Gennadi Mashyanov via IBA on Instagram.

Bivol still has business to handle first against mandatory challenger Michael Eifert next week, but the comments from Mashyanov will only increase attention on a possible undisputed fight with Benavidez afterward. Benavidez already holds the WBC light heavyweight title, while Bivol controls the WBA, WBO, and IBF belts.

Benavidez has repeatedly said Bivol is the opponent he wants next, and this is the clearest public indication yet from Bivol’s side that the fight could move closer if he gets past Eifert.