Via Dan Ambrose: Dmitry Bivol could drop to 168 to challenge Canelo Alvarez for his undisputed super-middleweight title in the next bout following his win over Gilberto Ramirez on Saturday night in Abu Dhabi.
At the post-match press conference, Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn was asked who he wants Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) to face next and he revealed that he wants to move down to 168 to face Canelo in a rematch. his undisputed championship rather than waiting for an undisputed clash with IBF/WBC/WBO light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev in 2023.
Hearn says that Beterbiev won’t have his hands free to fight Bivol until the summer because he had a title defense against Anthony Yarde in February, and then he has Ramadan, which will keep him out can play until the summer.
“Obviously Dmitry Bivol talks about heritage and belts. He wants to be undisputed. That’s his absolute main focus,” said Eddie Hearn after the fight at his post-match press conference when asked if Bivol will face Canelo Alvarez next.
“Obviously, on my side, we want to make the biggest battles possible. The Canelo Alvarez rematch is a huge fight, but the priority for Dmitry is unquestionable.
“However, if Beterbiev fights Yarde in January or February and then enters Ramadan, then he probably won’t be ready to fight Dmitry until June, July, whatever.
“We have to see it as a team. We must also consider that the possibility of Dmitry against Canelo at 168 is indisputable. He can take on Canelo Alvarez at 168 years old is unquestionable. If he wins that match, he can take on Beterbiev in his next match at an undisputed rate of 175. and became an undisputed two-time champion in two matches.
“I don’t know if he can get 168,” Hearn said.
“Sounds good,” said Bivol.
“Of course, I’m glad I was the first to beat Zurdo. 44 matches he won before, and now I’m the first to beat him. It means a lot to me,” said Dmitry Bivol at post-war press conferencee after beating Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez on Saturday night.
“I wanted to fight him three years ago, and now I have. It means a lot to me. I prove. I don’t expect from him to have a good time. He’s slow. I see his punches. He’s slower than me, but he’s having a good time.
“When I throw a punch, he hits me back. This is good homework. He punched me many times in the body. Those are good punches.
“Yes, I’ve seen a few moments, but he’s also good defensively,” Bivol said when asked if he felt he had a chance to knock Ramirez down. “During matches, I try to move forward because I know he throws a lot of punches.
“When you throw a lot of punches, it means they are not strong. They are very easy and you can push your opponent. If your opponent doesn’t throw a lot of punches, those are tough punches. Usually, he moves forward.
“I’m not surprised because I expected it,” Bivol said when asked if he was surprised Ramirez didn’t put in more body shots. “He punched me many times in the body. Those are good punches.
“I tried to be close to Ramirez during the war. Always close to keep him in focus. Every time, I want him to throw punches and drain all his energy.
“Are you serious?” Bivol said when told he looked better tonight against Ramirez than against Canelo Alvarez last May. “Thank you. Yes, I try to be better all the time.
“I feel like I won the war. For a couple of rounds, I tried to give him some energy back,” said Bivol.
