British contender Craig Richards feels confident in his ability to defeat WBA light heavyweight world champion Dmitry Bivol.

According to Richards, ranked at eight by the World Boxing Association, there are ongoing negotiations to face Bivol on a date in April - and the contest is potentially going to take place on UK soil.

Bivol, unbeaten in 17 fights and regarded as one of the best technical boxers in the sport, has been away from the ring since October of 2019.

Last year, the Russian boxer's handlers were unsuccessful in their attempts to secure a fight that interested him.

Richards saw action back in December, when he blasted out Shakan Pitters.

"There's been negotiations for this fight for the last few weeks, back and forth," Richards told Sky Sports. "It seems like it's moving in the right direction. That's the fight I wanted. Exactly the time I wanted it. I know it will be April, and I think it will be over here, as far as I've heard."

"You don't get much bigger than Dmitry Bivol at my weight. I think he's a good boxer. He's got a lot of things he does well. He's very seasoned. I can see there's flaws in him as well. This is the sort of fight where I will of course go through all my gears and show what I'm really about. I feel like stylistically, he'll bring the best out of me.

"It will be tougher than the domestic fighters I've been knocking out, but I believe I've got enough IQ, enough skill and enough punch power to gain his respect and break him down over the duration. He's a man, he's a human being, two arms, two legs, just like myself. I hit very hard, I've got a good boxing brain and I've got a good chin myself, and I believe I've got the tools to win."