The WBA have thus far outlawed Russian boxers from entering the ring with their home flag or have the national anthem played before sanctioned bouts. The governing body have also removed Russian boxers from their official rankings.
The Klitschko brothers believe Russian fighters should be banned from fighting while the invasion is ongoing, despite Bivol having openly condemned the war. Speaking to BBC Radio, Klitschko declared: “[Bivol should] absolutely not [be facing Canelo].
“Every sanction, and it’s nothing against the personality or athletes, it’s about the politics of Russia. Every Russian representative in this case needs to be sanctioned, because this way we show to Russia that the world is against this senseless war and that there’s no good in this war.”