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By Brian Webber: Dmitry Bivol showed improvement in his fight against Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez on what he showed last May when he schooled Canelo Alvarez over 12 rounds in Las Vegas.
Even though Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) has played it safe in defeating Ramirez (44-1, 30 KOs) to defend his WBA light heavyweight crown, he was more aggressive and opened up with his offense. – times more than he did before. Canelo.
Part of the reason Bivol was showing more aggression last Saturday night was because of how slow & limited Zurdo Ramirez was.
What became clear after four rounds was that Ramirez was not the fighter that some boxing fans thought he would be going into the fight. Ramirez looks like an average contender and no one with a 44-0 record sits in the right place with the WBA.
Ramirez’s various promoters during his career used him skillfully, matching him against opponents who would win to build a record. With such a weak opponent, it is no wonder that Bivol dominated as he did.
“Dmitry Bivol successfully defended his WBA heavyweight title, outpointing Gilberto Ramirez to hand him the first loss of his career,” Chris Mannix told DAZN Boxing.
“Great performance by Dmitry Bivol. Is this even better than what we saw from Dmitry against Canelo?”
“Yeah, I think so because a lot of the questions that are going on tonight are how we think the battle will be with Gilberto Ramirez up front,” said Ade Oladipo.
“In the first four or five rounds, you thought that he was going to push the level, but that was not possible. It is Bivol who clicks the action, landing the best photos, and meeting again.
“He [Bivol] he came into the fight a bit of a favorite, and I thought that might work against him because I always felt that he raised his game when he was under pressure.
“He’s shown that he’s not only the best heavyweight out there. I know some people will argue about Beterbiev, but he’s pound-for-pound top-five for me.
“That game was a hit of the year as well. He surprised me there. Gilberto Ramirez is undefeated. Yes, there are questions about Gilberto Ramirez’s success that took him to 44-0, but as undefeated player, I thought he won comfortably. I only gave Ramirez three rounds,” Oladipo said.
“I’ll always rank Canelo’s win as the biggest and best win in Bivol’s career, but the way he won tonight,” Chris Mannix said. “Gilberto Ramirez came in with a reputation as a fighter, but Bivol was working on the front foot all night.”
“On paper, this is tougher than Canelo because of the guy [Ramirez] it has a very long length; he can punch,” said Barry Jones. “I know Canelo can, but he’s bigger physically, and you have to think a lot more physically. I’m not sure about that.
“So, on paper, it was more difficult, but it wasn’t. He looked cagey for the first four rounds. If you go back to some of Bivol’s early fights, this is his MO.
“He doesn’t do much. It’s like he’s testing the waters of your answer, but then he lifts the button. Not much. Just enough and again, feet. It’s very subtle. A little movement and he leans on the back foot, you think, ‘Why is Ramirez in range? Why are you letting go of your hands?’
“That’s why. Small movements with the legs. They’re leaning on the back foot, and you’re there, but you’re not comfortable giving up your shot,” Jones said.
“I think it is what it is [Bivol] he got decent power,” said Oladipo. “It is not explosive power. You think of other heavyweights in the past like Kovalev.
“It’s not that kind of power, but when Ramirez went in, he was afraid to let go of his hand because he felt something in the first four or five rounds.
“He felt the power of Dmitry Bivol. Look, I have to admit. I think I slept on Bivol. When he fought Craig Richards, I thought, ‘He’s not that special.’ When he fought Joe Smith, I thought he was fine, but he got caught in that fight.
“One more second in this fight, and you never know. I feel like I slept on him, and he penetrated me. I believe we are looking at one of the best fighters right now. It will take a lot to beat Dmitry Bivol because he can do a little bit of everything,” Oladipo said.
“What he’s done most of his career is enough,” Jones said of Bivol. “He’s getting stops, but he’s not going to win. Even tonight, he got Ramirez in trouble at times, maybe, but he won’t take that risk because the risk isn’t worth the reward.
“He wants to win. He doesn’t want to impress. If he impresses, that’s good, but that’s not his focus. His focus is to win and only win,” Jones said of Bivol.
“He wants the Beterbiev fight; obviously that’s what he wants,” Oladipo said. .
“The issue of this man is that he fights once a year, not because he wants to, but because his body can’t continue to do what he wants to do in the ring. So he may have to take something in between. The in-between options are great.
“There’s Canelo at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Maybe we’ll go there again and make a lot of money. I think he’s taking [Joshua] Buatsi. I think he’s taking a standoff while he waits for Canelo.
“Look, Canelo, we know he’s had hand surgery. Eddie Hearn said Canelo could fight in May. I don’t know if it will be, if not, and for the date of September, it took something in between.
“Joshua Buatsi is here. It’s a big fight in the UK. It sells out the O2 Arena. You probably did that,” Oladipo said of Bivol possibly fighting Buatsi.
“Also, the whole thing about, ‘You only beat me because I’m so big. I’m your responsibility now,’ said Barry Jones.
“There are no re-instatements, please,” Oladipo said. “If we are going to do 168, let’s do 168
yes
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