This past Saturday night in Moscow, Artur Beterbiev (16-0, 16 KOs) retained his world titles with a tenth round stoppage of Germany contender Adam Deines.

Deines went down in the first round, and again in the tenth, before the contest was waved off.

It was the first ring appearance for Beterbiev since October of 2019, when he stopped unbeaten Oleksandr Gvozdyk to unify the WBC, IBF world titles.

Beterbiev wants a major fight before the year is over.

He wants to face the winner of next month's contest between Joe Smith and Maxim Vlasov - who battle for the vacant WBO world title.

And he would also like to get his hands on WBA champion Dmitry Bivol, who on May 1 will defend his title against Craig Richards.

"Yes, we are interested in a unification fight for one of the titles. It does not matter against whom. Either it will be the winner of the Bivol-Richards fight, or the winner of the Vlasov-Smith fight," said Beterbiev's head trainer, Marc Ramsey.

Bivol's promoter, Andrei Ryabinsky of World of Boxing, says a fight with Beterbiev is possible in the future.

"This kind of fight can be organized," Ryabinsky said to Tass.

"It's not very good that both are Russian boxers [and have to fight], because there is always someone else to fight with. But given that this is a unification fight, sooner or later their paths would have crossed."

Mexican superstar Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, who in 2019 captured the WBO title at 175, is another target on the list. Canelo is currently the WBA, WBC champion at the super middleweight limit of 168-pounds.

Beterbiev noted that he was ready to step in the ring with Canelo.

"Canelo is a cool boxer, I like him. It will not be an obstacle to enter the ring with him if there is an offer. I would gladly fight," Beterbiev said.

Canelo will return to the ring on May 8, when he faces WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders in a three belt unification clash.