Via Sean Jones: Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez suddenly believes that WBA heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol is not the best fighter he has faced in the professional ranks.
It’s hard to make that comment on the merits, given the often weak opposition that Ramirez (44-0.30 KOs) has faced during his 13-year-old professional career.
Zurdo Ramirez will challenge Bivol for his 175-lb WBA title on November 5 on DAZN at Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi.
Ramirez’s best objections:
- Jesse Hard
- Yunieski Gonzalez
- Arthur Abraham
- Sullivan Barrera
- Roamer Alexis Angulo
- Maksym Bursak
The best that the 31-year-old Ramirez has for him in this fight is his size. He’s basically a heavy cruiser who can still afford to carry the 175-lb division.
At that point, Ramirez rehydrated to 203 lbs for his final game against Dominic Boesel in May. Ramirez was like a cruiser in the ring against Boesel in that battle, and that was enough for him to get the victory.
Bivol is about to have a win over Canelo Alvarez last May and he will make it difficult for Ramirez to impose his caliber in this fight. Bivol will use movement and will make sure that Ramirez doesn’t have a stationary target to make his big hits in this skirmish.
“Yes, it is true, and my body feels strong. I feel really good with 175 pounds,” Gilberto Ramirez told Fighthype about him being more aggressive at 175 than at 168.
“People have been watching my games and what I’m doing in the ring, and I’m happy about that. This is my body weight. I think I have to make it an interesting fight all the time, throwing lots of punches.
“People from Abu Dhabi and around the world, it’s going to be an interesting fight, and I’ll get [WBA 175-lb] belt. It should be [in California]. I don’t know what they’re doing in Abu Dhabi, but that’s fine.
“Anything, anywhere, I’m ready to take the belt because in the ring it’s just Dmitry and me, and that’s why I feel comfortable anywhere. Well, it has to make sense for everyone, too.
“I don’t feel any problem. I feel comfortable with this weight. Like I said, here’s my suitable weight of 175 pounds, and I’ll take this part. He has to deal with my reach and my intelligence. It’s going to be a tough time for him,” Gilberto said of Bivol.
“Yes, of course. You will see Zurdo Ramirez trying to take it apart [to the body], and it will be very interesting. Don’t miss it. I’ve been involved with a lot of fighters, and this is really important to me because it’s a title fight. I’ve also played with good boxers.
“Not necessarily. I’ve been in the ring with a lot of good boxers,” Ramirez said when asked if Bivol is the best guy he’s ever faced. “This is very important to me because it is a world championship match but I have also been with really good fighters.
“He has good style, good footwork and good defence, but now is the time to prove it to another lad and a good fighter. No, I don’t think he’ll like it [the pressure].
“Yes he is [Canelo Alvarez] did very well for the first six innings, but obviously, Bivol did better, trying to stay ahead all the time. But like I said, it will be completely different for me, Zurdo Ramirez.
“I think Canelo did well and all he could in the ring, but I don’t think GGG deserves a rematch against Canelo because he hasn’t done enough.
“It is sad for all the fans because they were expecting a fight like their first two games. They were expecting such a fight, but he [Golovkin] do nothing.
“For me, he did well. He was pressuring all the time and trying to win every round,” Ramirez said when asked if Canelo appeared determined. “GGG, he didn’t do enough. He was just trying to survive the whole war.
“I think the best have to fight the best,” Ramirez said when asked about his thoughts on Canelo, saying he didn’t want to fight the Mexicans. “After beating Bivol, I don’t care if he is Chinese or Mexican. We are fighters, and that’s what we do, fight anyone.
“All the time, it’s a fight, an exciting show for all the fans. That’s why they have so many fights. Yes, many times in Guadalajara,” Ramirez said when asked if he had ever played against Canelo.
“I was a middleweight at the time, and it was a great experience for me. I was average, then super average, and then light heavyweight. For me, it’s 50-50,” Ramirez said when asked who would win between Canelo and David Benavidez. “I like both, but I think it’s an interesting fight.
“Yes of course. If you [Benavidez] move up [to 175], that fight will happen eventually, and people want to see that fight too. We have to give the fans what they want.
“I think both are good but completely different styles,” Ramirez said when asked who would be more difficult to prepare, Canelo or Benavidez? “I think it was a good match for everyone.
“I think Benavidez has more speed and yes [one-punch power than Canelo]. I think it’s Benavidez. He’s older than Canelo.
“You have to risk something, and you have to do whatever you can in the ring during the fight. It’s not important. You have to take punches,” Ramirez said when asked if he had to take punches from Bivol to get his shots.
“I will definitely win, and that will be all for me, all the goals that I am trying to achieve because I want to achieve many goals. This is one of those people [fights]. It is an honor for me to represent Mexico and all Latinos.
“Yes, of course, I will avenge all Mexicans. Of course, it’s the fight everyone wants to see,” Ramirez said of the fight against IBF, WBC & WBO light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev for the undisputed championship.
