Via Craig Page: Long-time WBA lightweight champion Dmitry Bivol will try to add another win to his record tonight against the ambitious Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez.
Bivol (20-0, 11 KOs) beat Canelo Alvarez in his last match six months ago and will now look to claim the O-point of former WBO super-middleweight champion Ramirez (44-0, 30 KOs) tonight when they meet live on DAZN during their 2pm ET event at the beautiful Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Bivol entered the fray with a better career track record despite being in the pro ranks for five years less than professional Gilberto for 13 years.
Ramirez’s problem was that he lived for many years in 168, where the division died most of the time Zurdo was there.
When Canelo Alvarez moved up to supermiddleweight in 2018, he chose not to fight Ramirez, which wasn’t the biggest surprise as he needed to get used to the weight division first.
Favorable:
- Speed - Bivol
- Strength – Ramirez
- Defense – Bivol
- Bivol – Bivol
- Experience – Bivol
- Dimensions – Ramirez
Bivol vs. Ramirez how to watch, match date, start time
Boxing fans can watch tonight’s match between Bivol vs. Ramirez, kicks off at 2:00 p.m. ET on November 5. The match will take place at Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
“This is the kind of fight that everyone needs to see and the kind of fight we have for the fans,” said Gilberto Ramirez. Boxing DAZN. “The best have to fight the best, and everyone has to witness those types of fights.
“I didn’t know that,” Ramirez said when asked why it took him so long [13 years] to finally get a big fight. I am delighted to have this great opportunity to make a statement this Saturday night and I’ll take that belt, that’s for sure.
“I’m mentally and mentally prepared for the belt this Saturday night. I don’t think the strugglers avoid anyone, but the advocates try to do something different. That is their business.
“As boxers, we want to fight against the best, fight against each other, and that’s what we want. We want legacy, we want to be a legend, and that’s the kind of fight 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,” Ramirez said.
Bivol told DAZN: “I am very much looking forward to the battle this Saturday night. “I try to be [calm], but of course, the fire is in 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 in the press conference that this next game is the hardest match of my career,” Bivol said of tonight’s title defense against Zurdo Ramirez.
“It helps me focus. He was one of the hardest fights because my opponent was a great fighter. He’s tall; he is male; he is confident. He’s good.
“I’ve told them before, I want to move forward,” Bivol said when asked if he would like to play Canelo Alvarez next if he beat Ramirez tonight. “Canelo, that’s my past. Of course, you can earn money. Great. I love money like everyone does, but that’s not my priority when I think about boxing.
“I think about achieving something, and when you achieve something, the money also comes. I tried to change many things, but it’s the same. I want to be my best. I want to show all my best sides.
“I believe that if I show all my best sides on Saturday night, I will win,” Bivol said.
