Dmitry Bivol Only Focused On ‘Zurdo’ After Canelo Win

Shortly after Dmitry Bivol gained a transparent decision over Canelo Alvarez to retain the WBA mild heavyweight title in an upset in Could in Las Vegas, Alvarez got here to the post-fight information convention and vowed he would assert his proper to a right away rematch relatively than return to tremendous middleweight, the place he reigned because the undisputed champion.

In the end, it was bravado. Alvarez as an alternative elected to return to 168 kilos and defended the title in opposition to longtime rival Gennadiy Golovkin of their September trilogy battle, which was a much bigger occasion than a rematch with Bivol would have been, to not point out a seemingly simpler battle.

Bivol, nevertheless, mentioned he was by no means disenchanted by Alvarez’s resolution.

“Perhaps it’s the appropriate resolution for him and his group,” Bivol advised Struggle Freaks Unite. “He had a deal to battle me and Golovkin. (It made) enterprise sense.

“For me it’s OK. I’ve my very own highway. I beat him and I’m glad. I’ve to maneuver ahead. I don’t want this battle in opposition to Canelo. Perhaps to earn cash however it’s not the primary factor. After all, cash is likely one of the major issues however it’s not major, ? If I take into consideration solely cash I wouldn’t be right here. For this battle I earn the identical cash like in opposition to Canelo.”

The battle Bivol is talking of is his anticipated mandatory defense against Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, a former tremendous middleweight titleholder, who has gained all 5 of his fights by knockout since shifting as much as mild heavyweight in 2019.

Though Bivol’s group — promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing and supervisor Vadim Kornilov — tried to keep away from the necessary battle and as an alternative tackle a lesser opponent, Ramirez promoter Golden Boy pressed the problem with the WBA, which took Ramirez’s facet and gave Bivol an ultimatum — defend subsequent in opposition to Ramirez, who had gained two eliminators in a row, or be relieved of the belt.

Watch us previewing Bivol-Zurdo off our Friday BetUS TV present,

Quickly after that edict, the edges made a deal in August for one of many extra intriguing fights of the yr. It would happen on Saturday (DAZN, 1:30 p.m. ET) at Etihad Area in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, the place Bivol will make his tenth protection and Ramirez will search to hitch Alvarez and the late Julio Gonzalez as solely the third Mexican boxer to win a light-weight heavyweight world title.

Bivol masterfully outboxed the smaller Alvarez but additionally stood and fought on the within with him when obligatory. Coming off that so-far career-defining victory, Bivol acknowledged that getting up for the battle with Ramirez has been tougher than ordinary.

However he is aware of all about fighters akin to Andy Ruiz, for instance, who scored a giant win over Anthony Joshua to take his unified heavyweight belts solely to indicate up for a rematch in no situation, mentally or bodily.

“It’s a bit of bit more durable, yeah, as a result of I spent a number of emotion on the battle in opposition to Canelo and now I’ve to push myself and be targeted and neglect about Canelo and take into consideration solely Zurdo and I attempt to be targeted,” Bivol mentioned. “I attempt to be in my finest form in opposition to Zurdo. I perceive I’ve to be targeted for each battle. I attempt to I hope I’ll.”

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In Ramirez (44-0, 30 KOs), 31, a southpaw from Mexico, Bivol faces a far completely different model of fighter than Alvarez. Ramirez is a southpaw, he’s taller and has a for much longer attain than Alvarez.

“They’re actually two completely different fighters besides that they’re each Mexican,” Bivol joked. “I feel Zurdo will push extra and attempt to use his dimension and attempt to punch my physique greater than Canelo, perhaps. He has longer arms than Canelo.”

Bivol (20-0, 11 KOs), 31, of Russia, seems to have lived as much as his phrases about placing the win over Alvarez behind him and focusing solely on Ramirez.

He arrived in Abu Dhabi on Sept. 27, greater than a month earlier than the battle, to be able to full his coaching camp and to ensure he acclimated to the time change and climate.

Bivol has had time to get snug in Abu Dhabi

“Abu Dhabi looks like dwelling,” Kornilov mentioned. “The whole lot that has been accomplished for us, we don’t need to go away. It’s been very welcoming. It’s a pleasure being right here and having camp right here. The whole lot ran very easily, and I recognize that very a lot.

“This battle has been cooking up a while. Backwards and forwards conversations and discuss and press. This Saturday evening hopefully the fireworks will come for Abu Dhabi and everyone concerned. I actually hope it is going to be an thrilling battle.”

Bivol, who in addition to Alvarez has defeated different notable opponents akin to Joe Smith Jr., Jean Pascal and Sullivan Barrera, additionally mentioned he hopes the battle with Ramirez can be crowd-pleasing and that he’ll rack up one more profitable title protection earlier than seeking to a possible rematch with Alvarez subsequent yr.

“I actually had a giant dream to win this belt and I don’t need to go away it,” Bivol mentioned. “I’ll battle for this and I need to maintain it. I would like extra. I really feel I’ve one thing within me which I want to comprehend so I might be pleased on the finish of my profession.

“I consider it is going to be an thrilling battle. When folks inform me that I’ve achieved every thing it’s like they pour water on my fireplace. I attempt to solely take into consideration my dream, to comprehend my full potential. I attempt to be hungry and indignant each time and be targeted on coaching and my opponents. I attempt to consider how this Saturday evening would be the hardest battle of my profession. It makes me extra targeted on the evening.”

There are additionally two different world title bouts on the cardboard:

Within the co-feature, the undisputed ladies’s junior welterweight title can be up for grabs. WBC/IBF titlist Chantelle Cameron (16-0, 8 KOs), 31, of England, will defend these belts in opposition to undisputed welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill with the vacant WBO and WBA 140-pound titles additionally at stake. McCaskill (12-2, 5 KOs), 37, of Chicago, a former unified WBC/WBA junior welterweight titlist, is shifting down in weight seeking to change into a two-division undisputed champion.

Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov (16-0-1, 13 KOs), 28, a southpaw from Tajikistan, and Zelfa Barrett (28-1, 16 KOs), 29, of England, will battle for the vacant IBF junior light-weight title stripped from the injured Joe Cordina, who was unable to make a due necessary protection in opposition to Rakhimov.