Dmitry Bivol has had his next fight confirmed.
The WBA world champion in the light-heavyweight division will face his mandatory challenger next.
Bivol (20-0, 11 KOs) is coming off a seismic shock victory over Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez after the Mexican superstar stepped up in weight from super-middleweight to attempt to pick up a world title at 175lbs having previously been a custodian of the WBO title.
It will be ’Canelo’s’ fellow Mexican, Gilberto Ramirez, in the opposite corner to Bivol on November 5 after a deal was done for the fight to take place.
Fans wanted to see Bivol fight for the undisputed championship against unified WBO, WBC and IBF champion Artur Beterbiev – for whom Callum Smith of England became the mandatory challenger with a stunning fourth-round knockout win last weekend – or face Alvarez in a rematch.
Discussions were underway for Bivol to face Britain’s Joshua Buatsi for the title before the WBA got involved and ordered the Russian to face his mandatory, and it was revealed by Eddie Hearn on Sunday – just hours after Anthony Joshua’s rematch defeat for the unified WBA Super, IBF, IBO and WBO heavyweight titles against Oleksandr Usyk at the Jeddah Superdome in Saudi Arabia – that Matchroom and Golden Boy had shaken hands on a deal, with the United Arab Emirates the location.
“The World Boxing Association auction between Dmitry Bivol and Gilberto Ramírez, due to be held on today, was suspended,” the sanctioning body announced via social media on Sunday. “Both sides reached an agreement to fight on November 5 in the United Arab Emirates.”
Eddie Hearn tweeted to confirm the fight is on:
Straight up to close another brilliant fight this morning! @bivol_d v @ZurdoRamirezz done for November 5th! Full details dropping soon @makeawar 🤝 @DAZNBoxing 🔥
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) August 21, 2022
Ramirez, nicknamed ‘Zurdo’, is a former WBO world champion at super-middleweight who moved up to light-heavyweight and has finally worked his way into the upper echelons of the division.
The 31-year-old has a record of 44-0 with 30 quick finishes and was last in action against Dominic Boesel at the Toyota Arena in Ontario in May.
Boxing Social reported earlier this month that Matchroom, which promotes Buatsi, is in discussions with World of Boxing – the primary promoters of Bivol – regarding hosting a show in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in November.
And though it may not be Jeddah, it is understood that the fight between Bivol and Ramirez is headed for the Middle East, with Hearn stating that further details regarding the fight will be revealed in due course.