Dmitry Bivol vs. Gilberto Ramirez: date, time, how to watch, background
Light heavyweight titleholder Dmitry Bivol meets unbeaten Gilberto Ramirez in the Russian’s first fight since upsetting Canelo Alvarez in May.
DMITRY BIVOL (20-0, 11 KOs) VS. GILBERTO RAMIREZ (44-0, 30 KOs)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 5
Time: 1:30 p.m. ET / 10:30 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
TV/Stream: DAZN
Cost: DAZN is $19.99 per month of $149.99 annually
Division: Light heavyweight (175 pounds)
At stake: Bivol’s WBA title
Pound-for-pound ranking: Bivol No. 6
Odds: Bivol 4-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov vs. Zelfa Barrett, junior lightweights (for vacant IBF title); Chantelle Cameron vs. Jessica McCaskill, junior welterweights (for Cameron’s IBF and WBC titles); Galal Yafai vs. Gohan Rodriguez Garcia, flyweights
Prediction: Bivol UD
Background: Bivol is coming off by far the biggest victory of his successful career, a clear decision over Canelo Alvarez in May. The Southern California-based Russian technician outboxed his more-heralded Mexican counterpart to win by a score of 115-113 on all three cards, which most observers thought was too close. Boxing Junkie scored it 117-111 for Bivol, nine rounds to three. He could face a tougher test on Saturday. Ramirez is unbeaten over 13 years as a professional for a reason. The former 168-pound titleholder is a good boxer with power and durability, as he has demonstrated repeatedly against solid opposition. His most notable victories were two close, but unanimous decisions over capable Jesse Hart in 2017 and 2018, the latter of which was his final fight as a super middleweight. He’s 5-0 as a light heavyweight, including a fourth-round knockout of Dominic Boesel in May. Of course, Bivol is a significant step up in opposition for Ramirez. Thus, it’s no surprise that Bivol is a 4-1 favorite to have his hand raised.
