Dmitry Bivol would prefer to fight Artur Beterbiev over Canelo Alvarez.
The Russian defeated Alvarez back in May to defend his WBA light-heavyweight belt in a fight for which he was considered the underdog.
Bivol (20-0, 11 KOs) was dominant against the Mexican back in May at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will face Gilberto Ramirez, another Mexican, when he returns on November 5 at the Etihad Arena in the United Arab Emirates.
The clash between Bivol and ‘Zurdo’ will land at the top of a bill which kicks off the ‘Champions Series’ cards in the kingdom, exclusively live on DAZN, after Matchroom Boxing did a deal to stage boxing in the Middle East.
Bivol is now considered a top 10 pound-for-pound fighter and is linked with an undisputed clash with the division’s other champion, Artur Beterbiev, who holds the IBF, WBC and WBO titles.
And he told the DAZN Boxing Show that the challenge of Ramirez is a good one that he is looking forward to.
“He’s good, he’s tall, he has a strong, heavy left hand.
“He uses the body shot with the left hand a lot. Maybe he’s not got too much speed like ‘Canelo’, but he’s good.”
And as much as Bivol is excited to hopefully add another win to his unblemished ledger against his fellow undefeated fighter, the goal is ultimately to face his fellow countryman Beterbiev for all the marbles in the 175-pound division.
“Of course, [I would rather fight] against Beterbiev, to fight against the guy who has three belts.”
There had been discussions for Bivol to take on ‘Canelo’ in a rematch, potentially in May next year, but it seems that the idea of a return is on the back burner as he chases greatness in the light-heavyweight division.
Bivol was then asked about the differences between Alvarez and Ramirez.
“They’re two different, different fighters. Of course, ‘Canelo’ is more popular but about boxing skills, maybe ‘Canelo’ is better, but they’re different.
“‘Zurdo’ is taller, he weighs more, but ‘Canelo’ has good speed and one of them is a southpaw.”
‘Canelo’ will be back in the ring later this month, on September 17, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas when he defends the WBA Super, IBF, WBC and WBO world super-middleweight titles against WBA Super, IBF and IBO middleweight champion Gennadiy Golovkin as the pair clash in a trilogy, while the aforementioned Beterbiev is sidelined with a leg injury which is likely to keep him out until 2023.