Merab Dvalishvili Awaits Recognition: Pursuing Bantamweight Title Amid O’Malley’s Silence

Merab Dvalishvili, riding a nine-fight win streak and a victory over Petr Yan, is eyeing a bantamweight title shot. However, newly crowned champion Sean O’Malley has yet to acknowledge Dvalishvili’s claim. Despite initially refraining from challenging friend and teammate Aljamain Sterling, Dvalishvili now seeks his shot at gold.

Dvalishvili, willing to defer to Sterling for a rematch, is eager for his own title opportunity. O’Malley, focused on a potential rematch with Chito Vera and even a boxing match with Gervonta Davis, hasn’t mentioned Dvalishvili. Frustrated, Dvalishvili highlighted O’Malley’s silence:

“They know I’m a hard matchup for Sean… They mentioned everyone, it’s crazy.”

O’Malley’s pursuit of a Vera rematch is driven by revenge for his sole loss. However, Dvalishvili questions its logic given Vera’s recent loss to Cory Sandhagen. Dvalishvili asserts he’s the true contender after Sterling, arguing O’Malley should recognize him. He points out other potential opponents’ limitations due to losses or injuries.

Having had hand surgery after defeating Yan, Dvalishvili aims for a title shot, especially if O’Malley returns in December. Referencing a playful incident where he took O’Malley’s jacket, Dvalishvili jokingly comments,

“I stole his jacket, so let’s see if I can steal his belt now.”

While waiting for O’Malley’s fight booking, Dvalishvili remains steadfast in his title pursuit. He’s willing to fight injured, showcasing his warrior mentality. With his eyes on the championship, Dvalishvili is determined to establish himself in the bantamweight division.