Dmitry Bivol’s reward for beating Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in Might might be a November 5 struggle in opposition to 44-0 Gilberto Ramirez in Abu Dhabi, writes Elliot Worsell
FOR some time now now we have been questioning what the reward for beating Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez seems like in actual, tangible phrases and now, because of yesterday’s announcement relating to Dmitry Bivol’s subsequent struggle, now we have our reply.
The reward for beating Canelo Alvarez, boxing’s premier international attraction, is outwardly this: a November 5 struggle in opposition to one other Mexican, Gilberto Ramirez, in Abu Dhabi. That, by all accounts, might be Bivol’s subsequent task and it’ll, compared to what he has simply skilled, be a considerably low-key one, too.
That’s to not say it’s a foul struggle, Bivol vs. Ramirez, nor one to keep away from. Nevertheless, when one considers what’s subsequent on the horizon for Alvarez, the person Bivol defeated, it’s arduous to not really feel barely underwhelmed on behalf of Bivol, who dazzled so impressively again in Might and would have hoped, whether or not life like or not, to make use of that struggle as a launchpad to fights of comparable ilk and status.
Subsequent on the horizon for Alvarez, in fact, is one other massive struggle in a profession stuffed with them. It takes place on September 17 in Las Vegas, nonetheless boxing’s Mecca, and opposing him might be Gennady Golovkin, his outdated rival with whom he has shared two earlier fights. Collectively, Alvarez and Golovkin will make some huge cash in Sin Metropolis and obtain quite a lot of consideration as well. Collectively, they may also show that current kind doesn’t, in boxing, trump identify energy or certainly previous kind, thus proving that Alvarez’s dalliance at light-heavyweight was by no means detrimental to his legacy or bargaining energy.
Ought to or not it’s, although? All issues being equal, perhaps it ought to be Bivol combating a famous person identify in a city match for superstars. Perhaps it ought to be him, not Alvarez, who soaks up the accessible limelight and tries as finest he can to interchange Alvarez as one of many sport’s foremost “names”.
Then once more, that is boxing, and boxing, rightly or wrongly, has by no means actually labored like that. Nor will it ever work like that. As a substitute, on this occasion, whereas Alvarez is off peacocking as soon as once more in entrance of the eyes of the world on September 17, Bivol, 20-0 (11), might be beginning coaching camp forward of an interesting however simply missed world-class “commerce struggle” in opposition to Ramirez, his WBA necessary challenger, later this 12 months.
“The struggle with ‘Zurdo’ has been brewing for a while and plenty of issues have been mentioned,” the 31-year-old Russian mentioned. “Now now we have the possibility to deal with issues with our actions within the ring, and never our phrases exterior of the ring.”
As for Ramirez, a Mexican southpaw in determined want of a take a look at, this might find yourself being his Bivol vs. Alvarez second. The 31-year-old is now up at light-heavyweight, following a two-and-a-half-year reign as WBO super-middleweight belt-holder, however has spent the very best a part of three years brushing apart a collection of overmatched 175-pounders with seemingly no plan or course in thoughts. He’ll due to this fact have been anticipating this, a chance to maneuver one step nearer to creating the type of cash loved by different pre-eminent Mexicans.
“I’m blissful that the struggle is lastly occurring regardless of all of the challenges,” mentioned Ramirez, 44-0 (30). “It’s been a very long time coming and I sit up for an incredible evening come November 5. I might struggle Bivol wherever, together with Mars, however I do know we’ll placed on an incredible present in Abu Dhabi. I’m blissful general and really grateful to the WBA, Mr. Gilberto Mendoza and the Golden Boy household for being on this journey with me.”
Little question Bivol and Ramirez might be paid handsomely for his or her light-heavyweight struggle on November 5, and maybe that’s all that issues, but the unavoidable “enterprise” factor of this good battle of unbeatens leaves a considerably bitter style. It’s, alas, the newest in a rising listing of fights to be held within the Center East, the place cash is made however fights can go largely unnoticed. It’s, regardless of the wealth it exudes, something however the backdrop a matchup of this high quality deserves.
