Via Sean Jones: Eddie Hearn feels that Dmitry Bivol is the “king of the subject” in light heavyweight following his unanimously one-sided win in the 12th round against a must-have out-maneuvered opponent Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez last night Last Saturday in Abu Dhabi.
175-lb WBA champion Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) still needs to face and beat IBF, WBC & WBO light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev for the No. 1 spot as king of the set. but that fight will unfortunately need to wait until the end of 2023 to happen.
In the meantime, Hearn wants to fight Bivol against Canelo Alvarez next May, possibly 168 for the undisputed WBA Joshua Buatsi or #2, who he also promotes.
Buatsi attended Bivol’s match against Ramirez last weekend and he wants to challenge him for the next title.
For Bivol to face Buatsi, it would be a disappointment for boxing fans because they would rather see Dmitry against Canelo or Beterbiev than a lesser fighter. Buatsi is a similar type of boxer to Craig Richards, and he wouldn’t be a good fit for Bivol.
“I have to say that Dmitry Bivol is #1. This guy is very good on a lot of occasions. So a lot of people have told me this guy is the real deal and he’s just looking for opportunities,” Eddie Hearn told. Boxing in the match after Dmitry Bivol’s win over Gilberto Ramirez last Saturday night.
“You have two things. You have Canelo Alvarez, wanting a rematch with him, possibly on the terms he lost. Saul is the kind of person he doesn’t want people to think he’s trying to almost change the terms of the fight to his advantage.
“The reason Canelo Alvarez accepted to challenge Dmitry Bivol was because he was a 175-pound athlete, and it was a big challenge. But we all know how good Dmitry is now, but can Dmitry make 168?
“He always said he could, but he hasn’t done it for a long time. So we need to talk to both of you. Dmitry Bivol is about legacy. He wants belts; He wants the undisputed championship.
“If Beterbiev is going to fight Yarde in February, and then you have Ramadan right after, and he won’t be available until the second half of the year, Bivol will fight.
“If it’s a game against Canelo Alvarez, then why not at 168 because that will give Bivol a chance to be undisputed at 168, and then if he succeeds, go to Beterbiev to be back. became an undisputed two-time champion within two games.
“That’s going to be pretty sensational, and we’re going to have to talk to both teams and both camps and see what comes next.
“Ah, again, depending on whether the fight with Canelo Alvarez goes through, Dmitry Bivol will need to fight. So without Bivol against Canelo and Beterbiev fighting Yarde and then there’s Ramadan right after, I think Joshua Buatsi is the right fit for that.
“You also have Callum Smith. I want to see the fight between those two. I cannot lie. I know they’re looking for shots at a world title, but it’s been a great domestic fight. We’ll have to see. Dmitry Bivol is the king of the division right now.
Hearn talks about how Buatsi is looking for a declaration fight. “The fact that he watched it in the ring was soul-destroying. Also, look, everything happens for a reason.
“Joshua Buatsi is still learning, he is still improving under Vergil Hunter, and when you look at Dmitry Bivol you would say he is more of a favorite than Joshua Buatsi. He’s a favorite over everyone right now.
“I don’t think the time to learn and improve under Vergil, and maybe another fight going on with Joshua, will harm him, and he’ll be back in the ring early next year.
“Obviously the win over Canelo Alvarez, the incredible No. It was the win tonight, I hardly let him lose a round, to be honest,” Hearn continued Bivol.
“I think sometimes these judges offer a few rounds of consolation as the fight goes on, and it’s too one-sided. Maybe he lost a round, but I think this guy is sensational. I absolutely believe he is the best 175-pound athlete in the world.
“Obviously, the Canelo Alvarez rematch is there. Beterbiev fights for what is undisputed is the fight he wants too, and I’m not sure who will beat him, to be honest.
“AJ was sitting next to me and Joshua Buatsi, and they were talking about the fight, the whole war. They are talking about Dmitry Bivol, what he does so well and what Ramirez needs to do.
“It’s tough, and as good as Ramirez, he’s 44-0, he’s a former super-middleweight world champion, it’s very difficult for him to find his way into the game.
“He didn’t stop trying, and by the way, he soaked up a lot of penalties in the ensuing innings. I feel he was injured earlier in the battle, and just that Dmitry’s leg is fine.
“Every time Ramirez wanted to attack, he would be out of range, and other than that, Bivol looked like he was having a hard time breathing at the end, to be honest. He’s super fit; he never makes a mark, his feet are unbelievable, and his shot selection. He is an excellent fighter.
“Yes, because I think you are talking about the pound-for-pound great in Dmitry Bivol,” Hearn said of why Bivol easily beat Ramirez.
“Zurdo is an elite level fighter and a former world champion, but at the world level there is another level, and those are elite level people that we talk about, and that is what they are. Bivol,” Hearn said.
“They’ve been signed, and that will probably happen in the sprint of 2023,” Hearn said of Joe Cordina (15-0.9 KOs) challenging IBF featherweight super champion Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov 17-0-1, 14 KOs).
“Joe Cordina had surgery. He’s back in the gym and still hasn’t punched with his right, but it won’t be long. It was a huge war. We’re going to see a great fight tonight between Cordina and Rakhimov, but you’ll see a great fight back in Wales in the spring of 2023 or early summer.
“It was a huge fight for division and a very tough fight for Joe Cordina. Coming back from injury, Rakhimov is all about action, relentless pressure, and a call to action for Zelfa Barrett. Can even move up to 135.
“He has a big future. He showed tonight he’s a world-class boxer. He hurt Rakhimov repeatedly tonight, and I think he put in a lot of effort.
“I must have said something to him at the weigh-in,” Hearn said of his run with coach Freddie Roach. “I said, ‘I think Zelfa will beat your guy.’ I thought I said, we’re going to bet a little on it, and he came up to me and said, ‘Where did you bet?’
“The first thing I did was I pointed at Joe and Rakhimov, and I said, ‘He’s next,’ and Freddie came and said, ‘Where’s the bet?’ Oh, oh, oh, ’cause I think he’s ready to swing his hand at me.
“I have s*** into my pants. He is a veteran. I said, ‘It’s over, we don’t bet on that, but we can bet on this. [Cordina vs. Rakhimov]. ‘ He’s still on the pipeline.
“Finally hugged him and said, ‘I’m sorry.’
“Rakhimov vs Zelfa Barrett, an impossible battle. In a long time, I’ve never been so emotional in a fight, and I love that.
“I really feel Zelfa will do it. He’s got a leg wound, and they won’t work. Rakhimov, the pressure is relentless,” Hearn said.
