Gilberto Ramirez Confident Fight With Dmitry Bivol Will Happen

Dmitry Bivol (20-0, 11 KOs) and Gilberto Ramirez (44-0, 30 KOs) have been ordered to share the ring and Ramirez expects it to go through.

The World Boxing Association (WBA) announced the order for the two fighters on Monday July 11. Ramirez has given his thoughts on the order.

“I always hear things here and there,” Ramirez said.

“But I’m in this position for a reason. The WBA is a tremendous organization and I believe the right process will prevail. Unlike others, I take pride in my craft and will always want to face the best in real life, and not just speak of it like other champions.”

Bivol has been the WBA light heavyweight world champion since 2017.

In his most recent fight against Dominic Boesel (32-3), Ramirez won by KO, making him mandatory for this fight.

In order to prevent WBA purse bid hearing, Bivol and Ramirez have been asked to make their deal by August 10.

Chairman of the WBA Championship Committee, Carlos Chavez, shared a letter to both teams.

“Bivol’s champion period is conditioned to a term of 24 months and his last mandatory fight was on March 3, 2018 (8 fights ago vs. Sulivan Barrera in Bivol’s first title defense), his next was to be after March 2020.” said Chavez.

“For that reason, he must face Ramirez. In case they do not reach an agreement in the given time period or any of the parties refuse to do so, the WBA will have the right to call the fight a purse bid,”

Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn alongside Bivol’s manager Vadim Kornilov, reportedly planned to request the WBA to allow Bivol to make a voluntary defense against No. 2 rated Joshua Buatsi. The winner of the fight would face Ramirez.