The Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi will host the WBA Light Heavyweight World Championship fight between Dmitry Bivol (20-0) and Gilberto Zurdo Ramirez (44-0) on November 5th. Bivol comes off what many perceived as a surprise victory over Canelo Alvarez, giving Zurdo a very serious chance at beating the man who who beat ‘The Man’.
“Everything is going well. This fight is a great opportunity for me, I’m so happy about it. I am ready to take the belt.” Said Ramirez in an exclusive interview for ProBox TV via video ink.
“It’s a real pleasure for me because I’v been training so hard and waiting for this opportunity. It’s always been a dream of mine to go Abu Dhabi and Dubai. I’m expecting a great fight from Dmitry Bivol, he’s very skilled. I’m looking forward to giving the fans in Abu Dhabi a great fight.”
Ramirez has had wait patiently since moving up from 168 pounds to compete for a title at light heavyweight. Nearly four years have passed since Ramirez last fought at super middleweight, defeating Jesse Hart in 2018.
“It’s been a hard time recently, not just for me but for everyone. We had Covid, then I did my own promotions too. I had a great team behind me and I’m so glad it happened, it was the right opportunity at the right time for me to promote my own shows. I still want to promote events in the future, I’m looking to work with other promoters because I have fighters in Mexico that I want to help. But first I need to take care of business with Bivol.”
“He did a great job against Canelo. He’s a great champion, he just beat one of the greatest fighters in the World in Canelo Alvarez. I want revenge for Mexico and to take the belt home to Mazatlan.”
Ramirez gained huge recognition in his native Mexico, becoming the first Mexican to win a major World title at 168 pounds, claiming the WBO Super Middleweight World Championship defeating Arthur Abraham in 2016. If it wasn’t for his fellow countryman Canelo, Ramirez would also have been in line to become the first Mexican to clinch a title at 175 pounds. However, a dance with Canelo Alvarez would surely eclipse the missed opportunity to break two national records.
“Eventually one day a fight with Canelo will happen. But right now I don’t see beyond Bivol, I really have to take of business with him first.”
At 31 years old and on the cusp of becoming a two-weight World Champion, Gilberto Ramirez gives the nation of Mexico another yet fighter to be immensely proud of.
“They support me a lot, they give me a lot of good vibes. The fans from Mexico love this sport. You could see them at the Canelo fight (with Gennadiy Golovkin). One day I hope to do something like that for Mexico.”