Artur Beterbiev offers himself to FIGHT promoter Eddie Hearn as well as Dmitry Bivol during a tense but comical press conference in Saudi Arabia

Artur Beterbiev will face Dmitry Bivol on Saturday for the title of undisputed world light heavyweight champion, but the Russian-Canadian comically also offered to fight promoter Eddie Hearn during a tense final press conference this week.

Presenter Dev Sahni sparked the awkward conversation between Beterbiev, 39, and Hearn, 45, in Riyadh when he told the fighter: ‘He called you arrogant, what do you think of that?’

Beterbiev responded by telling Sahni: ‘Are you trying to make me fight Eddie? I can’t do something you know.

Addressing Beterbiev directly, Hearn replied: ‘Don’t worry about me. You have to go through him first (pointing to Bivol).

‘When he’s done with you, it’ll be easier for me.’

Artur Beterbiev (second left) comically offered to fight promoter Eddie Hearn (right) this week

Hearn is the promoter of Dmitrii Bivol (left), who will face Beterbiev in Riyadh on Saturday

Dev Sahni (second left) provoked a fight between Beterbiev and Hearn at a press conference

Then came Beterbiev’s comical offer to Hearn – whose company Matchroom Boxing represents Bivol.

Beterbiev – whose current promoter is Frank Warren – told Hearn: ‘Maybe with you today? You are not in good condition now.

Hearn replied: ‘Not for you, it’s not a difficult challenge. My? I’m in terrible condition.

Champion Beterbiev then threw another jibe at Hearn, telling him: ‘You talk a lot, ok, we’ll see this Saturday.’

But Hearn had the final say when he told Beterbiev: ‘That’s my job, you should give it a try.’

Beterbiev is the undefeated light heavyweight champion of the world, holding the WBC, IBF and WBO titles with a perfect 20-0 record, all by knockout.

Beterbiev said to Hearn: ‘Maybe with you today? You are not in good condition now’

Matchroom Boxing promoter Hearn was seen smiling cheekily during the exchange

Hearn had the final word in his tense but entertaining conversation with Russian-Canadian Beterbiev

Meanwhile, WBA champion Bivol also boasts an undefeated record – 23-0, which includes 12 knockout wins, three of which were in world title fights.

Saturday’s winner will become the first undisputed light heavyweight champion of the four-belt era.