By Steve Kim

Light heavyweight world champions Sergey Kovalev and Dmitry Bivol both scored emphatic victories this past weekend at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. And it looks like both will be returning to this facility for their next fights in the summer.

"We're looking at July, there's a few dates they have available," said Main Events CEO Kathy Duva, who represents both light heavyweight belt-holders, to BoxingScene.com.

"So that's job one for today, to get together with HBO and decide which one to challenge because there's a couple of people ahead of us. So July is what' we're looking at."

The plan is for both Kovalev and Bivol to perform three times in 2018.

So who might Kovalev face next after stopping Igor Mikhalkin in seven rounds in defense of his WBO 175-pound title?

"Everything about what's possible and not the impossible,"s aid Duva, with a laugh.

"At the moment (IBF belt-holder) Artur Beterbiev would be my first choice but he's got legal problems and we can't get past that unless he can. The next choice we've got to see if Badou Jack beats ( Adonis) Stevenson, that makes sense. Of course, Stevenson makes sense if he ever wanted the fight with Sergey. I don't see why that's going to change now.'

"I don't know if the Kovalev-Bivol fight is ready because Bivol has to get a higher profile - that should be eventually be a much bigger fight. Marcus Browne is certainly a possibility, he's number one in the WBO so chances are hell be a mandatory. That's where we start, whether or not these people want the fight, that's always been the issue with Sergey."

On Saturday night Bivol stopped a game Sullivan Barrera in the 12th and final rounds. As for what's next for the WBA titlist, Duva explained to BoxingScene.com - "I'm going to sit down with (Main Events matchmaker) Jolene (Mizzone) and figure that out. Again, he's got to get a few fights to raise his profile. That's Jolene's job. Lets see what she comes up with."

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.