By Craig Page: Long reigning WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol will be trying to add another win to his resume tonight against the ambitious mandatory Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez.
Bivol (20-0, 11 KOs) soundly beat Canelo Alvarez in his last fight six months ago and now will be looking to snatch the O of former WBO super middleweight champion Ramirez (44-0, 30 KOs) tonight when they meet live on DAZN in their 2:00 p.m. ET event at the beautiful Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Bivol comes into the fight with the better career resume despite having been in the pro ranks for five years fewer than the 13-year professional Gilberto.
Ramirez’s problem is that he spent many years in 168, where the division was dead for most of the time that Zurdo was there.
When Canelo Alvarez moved up to super middleweight in 2018, he chose not to fight Ramirez, which wasn’t the biggest surprise because he needed to get acclimated to the weight class first.
Advantages:
- Speed – Bivol
- Power – Ramirez
- Defense – Bivol
- Ring generalship – Bivol
- Experience – Bivol
- Size – Ramirez
Bivol vs. Ramirez how to watch, fight date, start time
Boxing fans can tune in to watch tonight’s Bivol vs. Ramirez card, beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET on November 5th. The fight event will be taking at the Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
“This is the type of fight that people need to see and the type of fight that we give to the fans,” said Gilberto Ramirez to DAZN Boxing. “The best have to fight the best, and the people have to see those types of fights.
“I don’t know that,” said Ramirez when asked why it’s taken him this long [13 years] to finally be getting a big fight. I’m so glad to be getting this big opportunity to do the statement this Saturday night, and I will take that belt, that’s for sure.
“I’ve been preparing myself and preparing my soul to take the belt this Saturday night. I don’t think the fighters avoid anyone, but the promoters try to do something different. It’s business for them.
“As a fighter, we want to fight against the best, fight each other, and that’s what we want. We want the legacy, we want to be a legend, and that is the type of fight that we need to see.
“I think I can stop him, but who knows? I will try everything. I will try to hurt him and try to take everything that I have in my power to make a statement,” said Ramirez.
“I’m looking forward to the fight this Saturday night,” said Bivol to DAZN. “I try to be [calm], but of course, the fire is inside of me. I feel it, but I try to be relaxed. I have to be stronger on Saturday night. I don’t want to waste my energy and emotions.
“I said at the press conference that this next fight is the toughest fight of my career,” said Bivol about tonight’s title defense against Zurdo Ramirez.
“It helps me be focused. He’s one of the toughest fights because my opponent is a great fighter. He’s tall; he’s southpaw; he’s confident. He’s good.
“I told them before, I want to move forward,” Bivol said when asked if he would like to fight Canelo Alvarez next if he beats Ramirez tonight. “Canelo, it’s my past. You can earn money, of course. It’s great. I love money like everyone loves, but it’s not my priority thing when I think about boxing.
“I think about achieving something, and when you achieve something, money will come too. I tried to change many things, but it’s similar. I want to be my best. I want to show all my best side.
“I believe that if I show all my best sides on Saturday night, I will win,” said Bivol.
