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Mike CoppingerESPN
Dmitry Bivol and Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez have agreed to a deal for a WBA light heavyweight title fight that will take place Nov. 5 in the United Arab Emirates, the organization announced.
The rights to the fight were scheduled to be auctioned off at a purse bid on Sunday afternoon before the deal was struck.
Bivol (20-0, 11 KOs) is coming off an upset win over Canelo Alvarez in May to retain his 175-pound title. The 31-year-old Russian is ESPN’s No. 2 light heavyweight and No. 8 pound-for-pound boxer.
Ramirez (44-0, 30 KOs) is a former super middleweight titleholder now campaigning at light heavyweight. Through five fights at 175 pounds, the 31-year-old Mexican has shown off a far more aggressive style — and punching power — but has yet to face anyone approaching the caliber of Bivol.
Ramirez is ESPN’s No. 3 light heavyweight and will be installed as a decided underdog against Bivol, one of the slickest boxers in the sport coming off a landmark victory.