His Excellency Turki Alalshikh tells The Ring he is no longer interested in a Dmitry Bivol-David Benavidez fight later this year.

The WBC on Wednesday ordered a mandatory title fight between Bivol and its No. 1 contender, Benavidez. They were given a 30-day free-negotiation period before a purse bid would be ordered April 8.

Bivol won The Ring and undisputed light heavyweight championship when he outpointed Artur Beterbiev last month in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Benavidez was ringside, fresh off his impressive victory over David Morrell. Alalshikh was interested in a future fight between Bivol and Benavidez at 175 pounds.

Now, he’s reversed course.

“I am no longer interested in Bivol-Benavidez and I will not bid on it. I think Bivol knows who has delivered for him and who hasn’t. My advice to Bivol: don’t be late because every day something changes.”

Russia’s Bivol is The Ring’s No. 4 pound-for-pound boxer. The 34-year-old is 24-1 with 12 KOs. His only defeat was a disputed decision to Beterbiev in October.

Bivol’s best performance was a May 2022 win over Canelo Alvarez.