[ad_1]
By Sean Jones: Eddie Hearn feels that Dmitry Bivol is the “king of the division” in the heavyweight division after he scored a second round 12 round victory over his opponent Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez last Saturday night in Abu Dhabi.
WBA 175-lb champion Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) still needs to face and defeat IBF, WBC & WBO light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev to claim the #1 position as the king of the division, but this fight is happening the need. to wait until the end of 2023 to happen, unfortunately.
Meanwhile, Hearn wants to match Bivol with Canelo Alvarez next May, possibly at 168 for the underdog or #2 WBA Joshua Buatsi, who has also improved.
Buatsi attended Bivol’s fight with Ramirez last weekend, and wants to challenge him for the next title.
For Bivol to face Buatsi, it will be a disappointment for boxing fans because they want to see Dmitry face Canelo or Beterbiev instead of a fighter. Buatsi is the same type of fighter as Craig Richards, and he will not play against Bivol.
“I have to say that Dmitry Bivol is pound-for-pound #1. This person is very good most of the time. A lot of people are telling me that this guy is the real deal, and he’s just looking for an opportunity,” said Eddie Hearn to Matchroom Boxing after Dmitry Bivol’s victory over Gilberto Ramirez last Saturday night.
“You have two things. You have Canelo Alvarez, who wants to rematch, maybe under the terms he lost. Saul is that kind of person he didn’t want people to think that he was trying to almost change the terms of the war to his advantage.
“The reason why Canelo Alvarez accepted Dmitry Bivol’s challenge is because he was at 175, and it’s a big challenge. But we all know how good Dmitry is now, but can Dmitry make 168?
“He always said he could, but he didn’t do it for a long time. So we need to talk to both people. Dmitry Bivol about the bed. He wants a belt; he wants a competition without controversy.
“If Beterbiev is going to fight Yarde in February, and then you have Ramadan shortly after that, and he’s not available until the second half of the year, Bivol is going to fight.
“If that’s the case with Canelo Alvarez, then why not at 168 because that would give Bivol an opportunity to be undisputed at 168, and if he wins, then he can fight Beterbiev and become a two-time champion. uncontested in two battles.
“That will be very interesting, and we have to talk to both teams and the two camps to see what’s next.
“Well, again, in terms of the Canelo Alvarez fight, Dmitry Bivol will need to fight. So if there is no Bivol and Canelo and Beterbiev is fighting Yarde and he has Ramadan shortly after that, I think Joshua Buatsi is right in in this.
“You’ve got Callum Smith too. I’d love to see a fight between those two. I can’t lie. I know they’re looking for a shot at the World Cup, but this is a big domestic fight. We’ll have to see. Dmitry Bivol is the king of the division now.
“He’s doing it, and he’s about to get it tonight,” Hearn said of Buatsi looking to make a statement. “It’s very frustrating for him watching him in the ring. Also, look, everything happens for a reason.
“Joshua Buatsi is still learning, he is still improving under Vergil Hunter, and if you look at Dmitry Bivol, you can say he is better than Joshua Buatsi. He is more popular now.
“I don’t think it’s time to learn and improve under Vergil, and maybe another fight will hurt Joshua, and he’ll be back in the ring early next year.
“Obviously, a win over Canelo Alvarez, the pound-for-pound #1. That win tonight, he barely lost in the second round, to be honest,” Hearn continued to Bivol.
“I think sometimes these judges give a little consolation as the fight goes on, and it’s one-sided. He may have lost one round, but I think this guy is interesting. I’m sure that he is the best 175 pounder in the world.
“Obviously, Canelo Alvarez’s game is up there. Beterbiev’s fight for the undisputed is the one he wants too, and I don’t know who’s going to beat him, to be honest.
“AJ was sitting next to me and Joshua Buatsi, and they were talking about the fight, all the fights. They talk about Dmitry Bivol, what he did well, and what Ramirez should do.
“It’s very difficult, and as good as Ramirez is, he’s 44-0, he’s a former middleweight champion of the world, it’s going to be difficult for him to get into the fight.
“He never stopped trying, and by the way, he suffered a lot in the last round. I heard he was injured earlier in the fight, actually, and it’s just that Dmitry’s legs are very good.
“Every time Ramirez tried to attack, it would be unexpected, and, Bivol looked like he was not breathing at the end, in fact. He was more efficient; he never made a mark, his legs were unbelievable, and his shot selection. He is an outstanding fighter.
“Yeah, because I think you’re talking about a great pound-for-pound in Dmitry Bivol,” Hearn said about why Bivol beat Ramirez so easily.
“Zurdo is a great fighter and a former world champion, but there’s another level to the world level, and it’s big guys we’re talking about, and that’s Bivol,” Hearn said.
“They are signing, and that is likely to happen in the Run of 2023,” said Hearn about Joe Cordina (15-0, 9 KOs) challenge IBF Super featherweight champion Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov 17-0-1, 14 KOs).
“Joe Cordina worked for him. He’s back in the gym and he hasn’t hit his right yet, but he won’t be around for too long. This is a great fight. We should have seen a great fight tonight between Cordina and Rakhimov, but you will for a big fight in Wales in spring 2023 or early spring.
“It’s a great fight for the division and a tough fight for Joe Cordina. Coming back from his injury, Rakhimov is all work, hard pressure, and yelling at Zelfa Barrett. Maybe even moving up to 135.
“He has a great future. He showed tonight that he is a world-class hero. He hurt Rakhimov over and over again tonight, and I thought he gave a great effort.
“I must have said something to him during the weigh-in,” Hearn said of his run-in with trainer Freddie Roach. “I said, ‘I think Zelfa will beat your man.’ I think I said, we’re going to bet on it, and he came to me and said, ‘Where are you with the bet?’
“The first thing I did was point to Joe and Rakhimov, and I said, ‘He’s next,’ and Freddie came over and said, ‘Where’s the bet?’ Hey, who, who, because I think he’s ready to do it for me.
“I s*** my pants. He’s a veteran. I said, ‘This is over, we didn’t bet on that one, but we can bet on this one.’ [Cordina vs. Rakhimov].’ He was still drunk.
“At the end he gave him a hug and said, ‘I’m sorry.’
“Rakhimov and Zelfa Barrett, an unbelievable fight. I’ve never been so emotional for a fight in a long time, and I love it.
“I heard very much Zelfa will do. He got injured in his leg, and they will not work. Rakhimov, the pressure is weak,” said Hearn.
[ad_2]
Source link