Dmitry Bivol and mandatory challenger Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez are set to square off in less than three months, after the WBA recently ordered the fight has to be next, and turned down Bivol’s request to face Joshua Buatsi instead.
Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn says the fight is “done for November 5th,” with full details to come soon.
The fight will be held in the United Arab Emirates, according to the WBA, who announced that along with their notice that the scheduled purse bid — which was to come today — has been canceled due to the sides reaching a deal.
Anyway, this is a good fight, and it’s one Bivol (20-0, 11 KO) has to do to not be stripped. Ramirez (44-0, 30 KO) is a top contender at 175, a former titlist at 168, and a good opponent here. If Bivol wins — and Canelo beats Gennadiy Golovkin on Sept. 17 — the expectation is Bivol will rematch Canelo in May 2023.