By Dan Ambrose: Dmitry Bivol says his priority is to fight for the light heavyweight undisputed after Saturday’s fight with Gilberto Ramirez, not to face Canelo Alvarez in a rematch.
WBA 175-lb champion Bivol (20-0, 11 KOs) is getting his mandatory defense out of the way against Zurdo Ramirez (44-0, 30 KOs) this Saturday, November 5, live on DAZN at 1:30 p.m. ET at Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Canelo (58-2-2, 39 KOs) wants a rematch with Bivol after being humbled by the talented Russian fighter last May in a shocking upset at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
It’s unclear how much Canelo wants the rematch with Bivol because he already passed up the opportunity to fight him by choosing to face Gennadiy Golovkin last September. That first hint that Canelo isn’t eager to mess with Bivol again.
The second hint was Canelo saying that if Bivol loses to Ramirez, then he can forget about a rematch against him.
To hear Canelo say that shows clearly that he doesn’t want any part of a second fight with Bivol because if he did, it wouldn’t matter if he lost to Ramirez. The loss would still be there for Canelo even if Bivol got beaten by Ramirez.
“It’s a business, but I have my goal. I want to move forward,” said Dmitry Bivol to Fight Hub TV about his priority to fight for the undisputed light heavyweight championship over a rematch with Canelo Alvarez.
“I’ve said it before; I don’t have too much more time in my career. I’m 32 years soon, and I and to move forward as much as I can. But it could happen. It’s not the baddest of options if I fight Canelo again, but my priority is another belt.
“Yeah, money is good, but legacy, I think is better. I love money too. Everyone loves money, but money is not what I think about when I came to boxing. I want to make history. If I think about money, I would never be here.
“100%, I don’t want to see myself in boxing when I’m 40 years. 32 in December. It’s maximum,” said Bivol when asked if he’ll fight eight more years.
“I have to listen to my body too. I don’t think about exhibitions because I’m focused only on my career to achieve something in boxing, not on the bank account or on the show. More on the boxing.
“I don’t see myself fighting someone that’s famous but not from boxing,” said Bivol about whether he’d be interested in fighting Youtuber Jake Paul.
