Via Brian Webber: Dmitry Bivol says he’s more interested in his undisputed light heavyweight championship bout against the next 175-lb IBF, WBC & WBO champion Artur Beterbiev than his rematch with Canelo Alvarez, if he ever does. successfully defended his WBA belt against mandatory Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez on November 5.
Bivol (21-0, 10 KOs) feels that the rematch with Canelo is turning his career upside down and he wants to move forward with new battles against Beterbiev and others. However, Bivol is interested in fighting Canelo again, but not in his next fight.
It could make Canelo happy if Bivol decides not to fight him next as that could give him another setback like the one he suffered against him last May.
At least if Bivol chooses not to take on Canelo in May, that saves the Mexican star from a loss and he can focus on fighting the likes of David Benavidez, Jermall Charlo and Caleb Plant.
Bivol will face Zurdo Ramirez (44-0, 30 KOs) on November 5 on DAZN at Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi.
“Of course, I felt great in my training camp; everything is OK. We have everything for a great training camp,” said Dmitry Bivol Fighthype about his upcoming title defense against Gilberto Ramirez on November 5.
“I feel confident, and I have enough competitive partners, everything. I’m in Abu Dhabi [for camp]. It’s good to be in the mountains. It’s good for conditioning.
“Of course, I do everything to be in great shape and feel good. Sometimes you don’t know what it will be like. Everything was fine in the training camp, and on the day of the fight something went wrong, but we try to do everything to be perfect,” said Bivol when asked if there was a chance he would fall short of the standard. high standards like him not. did with Canelo Alvarez.
“I believe I can beat him. I have good skills, and I will do everything to beat him. I felt I was at that level, I played against Canelo. Now everyone knows that my qualifications are good. Before, they didn’t think I was good.
“Of course, I will try to be better all the time. If you’re worse than last time, something’s wrong. You have to adjust something. Of course, I will try to be better, in this fight against Zurdo.
“I only respect him as a boxer and nothing more,” Bivol said of Gilberto Ramirez. “I respect him because he was a champion at the age of 168. It was a big deal. He has 44 matches and 0 losses. That’s also a big problem.
“This is what motivated me to beat him. I want to be the first. I don’t watch this match,” Bivol said when asked if he felt Canelo showed improvement since their fight when he faced Gennadiy Golovkin last September.
“It’s not that I don’t want to see it. That’s because that fight was when I was in my camp as I prepared for the fight against Zurdo. I have to focus on Zurdo. If I see a fight in my weight class, it’s not a good feeling for me because I’ve wasted my focus and everything.
“But with Canelo-Golovkin, Canelo has a little more chance because he is younger, and Golovkin has aged over the years.
“I don’t know. I don’t want to think about it,” Bivol said when asked if he believes Canelo will give him a rematch next year in May. November 5. I want to win this war and still move forward. No turning back and fighting the guys that I have defeated. I want to move forward for my goal of a belt. other,” said Bivol.
“The first thing I emphasize is having neutral referees,” Bivol manager Vadim Kornilov said of the rematch against Canelo. “That was the main thing that worried me in the first battle.
“Dmitry didn’t think about it. He doesn’t want to worry about the judges. It’s not his job, it’s in the negotiations, which is one of the main points we talk about because we never fight for money.
“We did that fight because he wanted to get more respect and attention from the boxing world. Fighting Canelo, who used to be number 1 or one of the top, gets your attention.
“But one of the main things for us is getting the decision we deserve. Obviously, if we have a rematch, that will be one of the main points. How do we make sure that if we win the war, we get the decision we deserve?
“It will be the first time. Then it will be other points. It will be A-side and get the wallet it deserves. Those things are important, but they are not the main thing.
“I think Dmitry would agree, but he doesn’t talk about those things. It is not his responsibility. Not just the way Dmitry performed. It should never be.
“It’s disrespectful. I’ve been boxing for 15 years. Dmitry has been boxing all his life. The kids put their lives in the sport of giving their lives. They spend most of their life coaching.
“I’ve been in training camps, and I’ve seen it all. Win a fight for a world title they’ve worked for all their lives and then let the judges make the decision for the other guy. I think that’s the worst that can happen.
“Worse than not getting paid for the war. The promoter could go bankrupt and not pay for the war. It’s not a big deal, but the judge stealing a decision is disrespectful. I’ve always been the one to realize that.
“I always thought that was something that should change. With some of our boys like Dmitry becoming world champions and becoming a recognized name, I hope we find a way. Not us. Everyone in the sport.
“Hopefully, we find a way to make this a fair game for everyone. No matter where you come from, where you are and where you are fighting,” Kornilov said.
“Of course, for my soul, for my pride, and for my history, I want my belt. I want to take this opportunity to fight for multiple belts,” Bivol said when asked if he would prefer to fight IBF/WBC/WBO light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev for his next bout after his rematch with Canelo. are not. “Great.
“Yes, exactly,” said Bivol when asked if it was a sign of how great he was if he could win more belts at 175. “He was big, very big, ” Bivol talked about his recent meeting with retired basketball player Shaquille O’Neal.
“I’m really excited to see a man like Shaq because when I was a kid I only saw him on TV and he was really popular.
“Still working hard to follow my coach’s plan and everything he says. It will make me more confident. When I did all the work he told me to do, it made me more confident.
“If I don’t do something, some small enemy in my head makes me a little less confident. But I have to work on what my coach has said,” Bivol said.
