Via Dan Ambrose: Golden Boy Promotion’s Oscar De La Hoya is pleased with Wednesday’s decision by the WBA to approve the clash between 175 lb champion Dmitry Bivol and mandatory Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez.
De La Hoya points out that Zurdo Ramirez, 31, has won two WBA title elimination games with Sullivan Barrera and Dominic Boesel.
Oscar feels that the World Boxing Association has done the right thing by siding with him that Bivol (20-0, 11 KOs) must defend against the next Ramirez.
Bivol promoter Eddie Hearn petitioned the WBA to allow Bivol to exercise voluntary rights against the next Joshua Buatsi. Hearn’s idea was for Bivol to fight Buatsi, and the winner would then defend Gilberto Ramirez.
The fight Bivol wants is a rematch with Canelo Alvarez after beating the Mexican star last May in Las Vegas.
Now to get a rematch with Canelo, Bivol must beat Ramirez and then possibly Buatsi if Hearn steps up that bout.
Statement from De La Hoya regarding the WBA’s decision:
“We find the verdict fair and honest considering Zurdo Ramirez has fought two knockouts and is the number one contender for this showdown since his victory over Sullivan Barrera in 2021. We will continue. continue to work hard to support Ramirez as he campaigns to one day become a two-tournament world champion.”
What you can say is that the WBA made Zurdo Ramirez a must-have challenger to Bivol in a terrible way because the two he beat, Sullivan Barrera and Dominic Boesel, were nothing special.
If Ramirez is defeated by Bivol, De La Hoya will need to make a decision on his direction. Although Ramirez is massive in size for the light weight class, his lack of speed will continue to hinder him.
Bivol, 31, is having the biggest win of his career with a win over Canelo Alvarez. This is the fight the boxing world wants to see right now.
They were no longer excited to see Canelo take on 40-year-old Gennadiy Golovkin for obvious reasons. Golovkin is too old and he could collapse on September 17 when he gets there with Canelo.
