Annoyed by Dmitry Bivol’s silence, even after Team Zurdo and Golden Boy Promotion sent the World Lightweight Boxing Association (WBA) world champion a legal contract offer, Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez now has a clear path to his first World title in the heavyweight division.
Ramirez (42-0, 28 KOs) took on Yunieski “The Monster” Gonzalez (21-3, 17 KOs) on December 18 in San Antonio (TX) in the Official WBA Lightweight Title Elimination Round to confirm Bivol’s obligatory challenger.
“I’m delighted to end the year with this elimination,” Ramirez said. “This is the path that I have been planning and I am humbled and honored to take this position. The WBA is a wonderful organization and I appreciate Gilberto Mendoza for allowing me to take on this position.”
Bivol (18-0, 11 KOs) expressed his desire to fight Ramirez before and after taking out Sullivan Barrera (22-3, 14 KOs) this past July. Suddenly, however, Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearns announced that Bivol would be up against John Ryder next month in the UK and then target WBA and WBC Middleweight Champion “Saul” Canelo” Alvarez (56 -1-2, 38 KOs), at 168 or 175 pounds.
“I was surprised when Bivol turned down the fight we offered because it was what I thought he wanted. I know he’s a tough fighter and aspires to be the best, that’s why I’m surprised. He openly called me and said he was ‘ready.’ But unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case in his case. Again, in boxing, this seems like a common scenario where a boxer barks and barks, but he can’t back down when it’s time to fight. With this fight (vs. Gonzalez) underway, Bivol has nowhere else to run, and he will eventually have to face me.
“I don’t know why Bivol thinks Canelo will face him in the near term. The chances of that happening in the next three games are very, very low for him. Sadly, I think he’s just a cannon fodder for this scenario.”
The first Mexican to win the world super middleweight title, “Zurdo” waited too long to risk his chance to win his first World Championship in the £175 weight class to overtake dangerous Gonzalez’ (21- 3, 17 KOs). Ramirez and Gonzalez, rated #3 and #4 by the WBA, respectively, and their 12-round main event will headline a Golden Boy promotion card that will be streamed live live on DAZN.
