Bivol first to acknowledge he'll have hands full in title defense against Zurdo
Light heavyweights meet face to face in Abu Dhabi to announce fight; Cordina and Cameron to defend world titles on the undercard
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Light heavyweight titlist Dmitry Bivol cut right to the chase when he and former super middleweight titlist Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez met face to face at the kickoff news conference to formally announce their much-anticipated fight on Tuesday at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, which will also host the bout.
“Yes, maybe it’s one of the toughest fights in my career,” Bivol said, showing the utmost respect toward the unbeaten mandatory challenger.
Indeed, the bout shapes like a dog fight between two of the best 175-pounders in the world, who will square off on Nov. 5 (DAZN) in the main event of a Matchroom Boxing card.
Bivol is coming off the biggest win of his career when, as the underdog, he clearly outpointed undisputed super middleweight champion and then-pound-for-pound king Canelo Alvarez on May 7 in Las Vegas.
When Alvarez declined to exercise his contractual right to an immediate rematch and opted to instead return to super middleweight to defend his belts against rival Gennadiy Golovkin in their third showdown on Sept. 17, Ramirez pressed hard for Bivol to fulfill the mandatory obligation.
Bivol promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing tried to get the WBA to approve an optional defense against Joshua Buatsi instead but Ramirez’s team at Golden Boy fought against it and the WBA ultimately gave Bivol an ultimatum: Defend against Ramirez, who had won two title eliminators in a row by knockout, or be relieved of the belt.
Bivol elected to accept the fight with Ramirez, which shapes up as one of the most intriguing of the fall.
“The fight with Zurdo has been brewing for some time, many things have been said,” Bivol said. “Now we have the chance to take care of things with our actions in the ring, and not our words outside of the ring.”
Bivol (20-0, 11 KOs), 31, of Russia, said he was never looking to avoid Ramirez (44-0, 30 KOs), 31, a southpaw from Mexico, who has knocked out all five of his light heavyweight opponents since moving up in weight in 2019.
Bivol at one point spoke excitedly about defending against Ramirez but backed off because he knew he had a chance for a career-making event with Alvarez. Then it was Hearn who wanted to make the Buatsi fight. But Bivol said he is happy to finally fight Ramirez.
“Thank you to Ramirez for this fight. I know he wanted this fight a long time. Me too,” said Bivol, who will be making his 10th title defense. “Now it will happen. He is a good fighter and I like challenges. I like to fight against the guy who has won 44 fights and who is bigger than me and taller than me. This is a big challenge for me. I hope it will be a great fight.”
With a win, Bivol hopes to move on to a unification fight with three-belt champion Artur Beterbiev but first things first, he said.
“I have to be focused only on this fight,” Bivol said. “Every time when I have a fight I’m focused on that fight. Of course, I have great plans in my head. I want to be the best fighter in the world. I want to get more belts, but now I have a big fight against a good fighter.”
Vadim Kornilov, Bivol’s manager, acknowledged that with Bivol coming off such a huge win over Alvarez, he will have to make sure there is no let down in his preparation.
“After the Canelo fight obviously it’s a second level of motivation they have to find,” Kornilov said. “Any fighter that goes to that level, they have to motivate themselves to go on. Having to fight a guy like Ramirez, who is very well respected, who has never lost, and who has fought some of the top-level guys, it’s something that you have to overcome and it’s something that we have to do.
“You have to find something inside you to get that victory again. I believe that Dmitry has that mentality and he is always very tough and confident. I think he will be able to do it and go on to get the other belts after this. That’s something that we look forward to as well.”
Ramirez has been chasing Bivol for more than a year and now he has the opportunity he has wanted to win a title in a second weight class.
“I’m happy that the fight is finally happening despite all the challenges,” Ramirez said. “It’s been a long time coming and I look forward to a great night come Nov. 5. I would fight Bivol anywhere, including Mars, but I know we’ll put on a great show in Abu Dhabi.”
The fight wound up in Abu Dhabi rather than the United States because of a group there putting up significant money to serve as the host.
Both fighters embraced fighting in a place with no real history of world championship boxing.
“I’m glad to defend my title in Abu Dhabi. I heard this is the first time that someone has defended a world title in Abu Dhabi,” Bivol said. “It’s great to be the first. I hope it’s not the last time in Abu Dhabi.”
Added Ramirez: “I’m glad to be here in Abu Dhabi. It’s my first time here and I feel like I’m at home because it’s the same weather as back home — hot and humid. It’s perfect for me.”
The undercard
Matchroom Boxing announced a pair of world title bouts on the Bivol-Ramirez undercard on Tuesday.
Joe Cordina will make his first defense of the IBF junior lightweight title against mandatory challenger Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov.
Cordina (15-0, 9 KOs), 30, of Wales, won the 130-pound belt by one-punch right-hand knockout of Kenichi Ogawa on June 4 in front of a hometown crowd in Cardiff.
“I know it’s going to be a tough fight so I’m going to be prepared for 12 hard rounds,” Cordina said. “I know I’m going to have to bite down on my gum shield and dig my toes in. It’s going to get tough in there but I’m going to be prepared for that.
“Nothing has really changed since I won the world title back in June. My mentality is still the same; I still want to be the best in the world. I want to win more titles. I’ve reached my goal of becoming world champion but now I’ve set new goals which include becoming a unified and undisputed world champion.”
Rakhimov (16-0-1, 13 KOs), 28, a southpaw from Tajikistan, is getting his second title shot. Two fights ago, he boxed to majority draw with then-IBF titlist Joseph Diaz Jr. in February 2021 in Indio, California.
Also, WBC/IBF women’s junior welterweight titlist Chantelle Cameron will defend against undisputed welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill.
Cameron (16-0, 8 KOs), 31, of England, will be making her fourth defense. She won the vacant IBF belt by shutout decision against overweight Adriana dos Santos Arauja in October 2020 and added the WBC belt in her next fight when she stopped Melissa Hernandez in the fifth round in May 2021.
“This fight means everything to me. For me it’s all or nothing,” Cameron said. “It’s a career-defining moment for me.
“Jessica is a very dangerous fighter and obviously undisputed at 147 pounds. She’s been there and she’s done it. She’s got that crown at 147 pounds so it’s definitely going to be my toughest fight to date.”
McCaskill (12-2, 5 KOs), 37, of Chicago, used to be the unified WBC/WBA 140-pound titleholder before vacating to move up in weight. She is returning to the division to challenge Cameron.
“I want to take on the biggest and best fights,” McCaskill said. “I want to dominate in multiple weight classes. It’s too easy to stay in one weight class and play it safe.”
Photos: Jorge Ferrari/Matchroom Boxing
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That's a damn fine card. All six announced fighters are capable of winning... another reason DAZN is a bargain for boxing fans.
Gilberto Ramirez will be the physically biggest opponent that Bivol has faced so far. The Mexican was over 200 lbs in the ring in his last fight!