By Craig Daly: Dmitry Bivol said he believes he can beat undefeated IBF, WBC & WBO light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev next after his win over Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez on Saturday night in their headliner on DAZN.
Beterbiev (18-0, 18 KOs) is #1 on Bivol’s target list for his next fight because he wants to fight for an undisputed championship at 175.
Bivol’s promoter Eddie Hearn was trying to convince him after the fight that the best way to go would be to drop down to 168 to challenge Canelo Alvarez or his undisputed title and then move back up to take on Beterbiev for the undisputed at light heavyweight.
Hearn sounded like a salesman, talking Bivol into facing Canelo first in his next fight and then Beterbiev afterward.
If Bivol does it the opposite way around by facing Beterbiev first and then Canelo, the interest in the fight will drop off dramatically if one or both of them lose their next fights. Canelo will have a lot of pressure on him to face David Benavidez if he doesn’t fight Bivol next.
WBA light heavyweight champion Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) made it look easy, beating former WBO 168lb champion Zurdo Ramirez (44-1, 30 KOs) by a 12 round unanimous decision at the Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
“Because I believe in my skills. I could beat him, why not?” said Dmitry Bivol when asked at the post-fight press conference if he believes he can defeat IBF, WBC & WBO light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev.
“I could lose. It depends on my preparation. It depends on my mental. I could have lost to Ramirez too. I tried to do everything right in my camp, and I tried to believe in myself.
“I tried to be focused on the fight. Why not?” continued Bivol about his belief that he can beat Beterbiev. “I have good defense and good combinations. I have good boxing skills. Why I couldn’t beat him?
“Of course, I could. I just need a good training camp and good sparring partners, and I could. You remember what people said about Canelo. We’re all people. Not monsters. Someone stronger, someone faster, but we’re all people.
“I have to say, a year ago, a year and a half ago, I would say on paper, Beterbiev was the favorite in that fight. Not anymore. I honestly believe that Dmitry Bivol is the best 175-lb fighter in the world,” said Eddie Hearn at the post-fight press conference on Saturday night.
“As good and as dangerous Beterbiev is, I do not believe he will beat Dmitry Bivol at all,” said Hearn.
