|
|
|
44-0 Mandatory Challenger Gilberto Ramirez Confident WBA
Will Order Title Fight vs. Dmitry Bivol
Former World Super Middleweight Champion and current World
Boxing Association (WBA) light heavyweight mandatory
challenger Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (44-0, 30 KOs) is
confident that the WBC will order Dmitry Bivol, the reigning
World Boxing Association (WBA) Super Light Heavyweight
Champion, to fight him next.
Last month, Ramirez stopped Dominic Boesel (32-3) in four
rounds to become the official WBA light heavyweight
mandatory challenger (it was his second title eliminator
victory) for Bivol.
First, Bivol talked about fighting a rematch with Canelo
Alvarez, which won’t happen until next May at the earliest.
Now, he reportedly wants to fight a unification versus Artur
Beterbiev (IBF, WBC & WBO), who has a WBO mandatory defense
due versus Anthony Yarde. And promoter Eddie Hearn, who
controls which fights are streamed by DAZN, is pushing
Joshua Buatsi as Bivol’s next opponent, if a unification
with Beterbiev isn’t made.
Bivol’s mandatory challenger, though, is Zurdo!
WBA WORLD LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT RATINGS
(June 1, 2022)
WBA SUPER CHAMPION
DMITRY BIVOL
1 GILBERTO RAMIREZ OC MEX
2 JOSHUA BUATSI GBR
3 CALLUM SMITH GBR
4 ANDRE DIRRELL USA
5 DAN AZEEZ GBR
6 RICARDS BOLOTNIKS LAT
7 DOMINIC BOESEL GER
8 YUNIESKI GONZALEZ CUB
9 ANTHONY YARDE GBR
10 CRAIG RICHARDS GBR
“I appreciate the WBA and believe the right process will be
followed,” Ramirez said. “I’m confused about Bivol ducking
me. I earned the WBA mandatory challenger position in the
ring, not once, but twice. He’s been talking about fighting
me for the last two years. It’s time!”
Bivol said this 1 ˝ years ago: “Gilberto Ramirez is one of
the top players in the light heavyweight division. We have
talked about this fight for a long time. The time has come
to make this a reality. We’ve trained together and sparred
as well. He is a professional, gentleman, and a very good
boxer.
“He is an ex-world champion who has proven to be one of the
best. Fights like this excite fans. This is what boxing is
all about, fights that either fighter has a 50-percent
chance of being victorious.
Even Ramirez’ former promoter, Bob Arum (Top Rank), is on
record saying Bivol vs. Zurdo should be next:
Arum noted that Bivol and Zurdo both fight on DAZN, while
Beterbiev fights exclusively on ESPN, and Arum doesn’t want
Beterbiev to fight Bivol on DAZN.
“So, my suggestion to Bivol is if the Canelo rematch isn’t
available,” Arum recently said in an interview, “he should
fight Gilberto Ramirez, who is promoted by Golden Boy, and
Golden Boy and Eddie Hearn both do their fights on DAZN. So,
it shouldn’t be a hard fight to make.”
Zurdo, of course, agreed with Arum: "I am not surprised by
Bob's comments. Bivol can't just demand what he wants to Top
Rank. It just doesn't work that way. Canelo didn’t commit to
the rematch, so now I'm curious what other excuses he
(Bivol) might make to avoid me.
"My team and I still have a tremendous amount of respect for
Bob and Top Rank. He is one of the greatest promoters and I
will always appreciate Bob for giving me an opportunity.
Although we disagreed, it doesn't mean we can't do good
business together down the line. I still cherish all my time
with Top Rank and wish nothing but the best for Bob and the
Top Rank family."
The boxing world is waiting for the WBA to order Bivol vs.
Zurdo.
|
|
|