IBF, WBC light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev is not considering the possibility of moving up in weight - unless a significant fight comes along.

A move to cruiserweight would require a jump of 25-pounds for Beterbiev (15-0, 15 KOs).

"Maybe I would move up to one weight to cruiserweight, if I had some interesting fights. But otherwise I wouldn't change my weight category, I wouldn't move up. But for a great fight? Yes," Beterbiev said to The Sun.

Beterbiev returns to the ring on Saturday night in Moscow, when he faces Germany contender Adam Deines.

For the Russia puncher, the contest will be his first bout since knocking out Oleksandr Gvozdyk in October of 2019.

Beterbiev, who knocked out every career opponent, is a massive favorite to win a bout that many view as a mismatch.

The fight with Deines was delayed several times - including postponements connected to the pandemic and Beterbiev being diagnosed with COVID-19.

"The most frustrating thing was the first cancelled fight as it happened just 14 days before the scheduled fight.  Afterwards we started training again, and it wasn't so frustrating as we couldn't do anything about it.  Look, I had to just take it as it is, as I can't change things," Beterbiev said.

A victory would place Beterbiev in position for a fight with the winner of the April 10 clash between Joe Smith and Maxim Vlasov, who battle for the vacant WBO world title in Tulsa.

Top Rank, who co-promote both Beterbiev and Smith, would like to match them against each other before the end of the year.

WBA champion Dmitry Bivol is another future option. He returns on May 1, when he makes a voluntary defense against Craig Richards.