By Stefan Radosavlević: Only a couple of months ago, Dmitry Bivol (21-0) was, for many people, a good champion but also a fighter who has yet to prove himself against a big-name opponent.
Many boxing fans were ready to put their money on Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez to continue his winning streak. Now, Bivol is considered to be one of the best in the business.
The Canelo fight improved his record and, more importantly, brought him much-needed attention from casual boxing fans. On the other side, Gilberto Ramirez (44-0) has one of the most impressive records in the game right now.
Despite that, Zurdo is still a mystery. How far can he really go? Gilberto is a former WBO super middleweight champion, and Bivol has been holding his WBA light heavyweight title since 2017. So, on Saturday, November 5, we are in for what could be a very interesting night of boxing.
On paper, Ramirez has what it takes: undefeated, a former champion, perfect record, and he is a bigger man. The press conference showed us that he has a lot of confidence, so everything is there, right? Yes, and no. Let’s start with his record.
The list of fighters he fought doesn’t have a name big enough to show us who Gilberto really is. Arthur Abraham, Sullivan Barrera, and Jesse Hart are the biggest names he faced, and Hart gave him hell. Bivol is, let’s be honest, on a completely different level from these guys, and he proved that when he faced Canelo.
What could be Zurdo’s biggest chance is his size. No matter how skillful the Russian fighter is, 6’3, long reach, and the body frame of a big cruiserweight are going to be a problem for 6 feet tall Bivol. But, in my opinion, not a problem that he can’t solve.
Ramirez is not a big puncher, and, more importantly, Bivol has much faster hands and feet. If Zurdo does not establish his jab in the first two rounds, it is going to be a really rough night for him.
Bivol comes from the Russian school of fighting and what is most impressive about him are his almost flawless fundamentals. He will counter and punish every mistake Gilberto makes, especially in later rounds.
On the other side, if the Mexican fighter comes in good shape and uses his reach and height advantages, it could be a very interesting fight. There is one more thing that definitely goes in Bivol’s favor; he can keep his cool when it matters.
The winner of this fight will most likely get a chance for an undisputed clash with Artur Beterbiev, so there is a lot of pressure on both fighters. The Canelo fight proved that Dmitry is not afraid of big fights and big names.
All in all, Bivol has the tools to take away Zurdo’s size advantage. I am expecting a careful but competitive fight, especially in the first couple of rounds. As the fight progresses, Bivol’s technicality, roughness, and cold head will lead him to a unanimous decision victory. But this is boxing.
Nobody can be hundred percent sure. No matter what happens on Saturday night, just seeing two undefeated boxers in their prime is enough for every true boxing fan to take a seat, open up a cold drink and enjoy.
