“Super champion” light heavyweight (up to 79.4 kg) according to WBA Russian Dmitry Bivol (20-0, 11 KOs) gave
interview for a news portal from the USA.
In a conversation, Bivol commented on the possibility of organizing a rematch against the absolute champion of the second middleweight (up to 76.2 kg) from Mexico Canelo Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs), spoke about his next opponent – the former champion of the second middleweight, and now light heavyweight American Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (44-0, 30 KOs), appreciated the benefits of Ramirez’s sparring partner, ex-champion from Ukraine Oleksandr Gvozdyk, spoke about the unified champion from Canada Artur Beterbiev (18-0, 18 KOs), and also answered questions about possible fights Canelo – Benavidez and Usyk – Fury.
– Canelo had a big defeat in his career and judging by the interview, he hopes for a rematch. The last thing you said was only for a large amount.
I didn’t say it was a big amount.
– Well, for decent money, right?
– That’s how you understood it. I didn’t say so. I said, “On different terms.”
— What does that imply?
– Other conditions are discussed by the teams. In fact, of course, revenge is possible, but I’m not as eager for this revenge as many people want to think. This is not true. The fight with Canelo was very necessary. I really wanted this fight to get this attention of boxing fans to me. Then to get those fights that I really want. And I want more belts in my piggy bank. The more famous you are, the easier it is to get some fights. The same championship, the same unification.
Let’s go back to Zurdo. You have already met with him, you had a face-off, there was a conference. Tell me your impressions of Ramirez.
– Impressions are about the same as with all my opponents. I try to equalize everyone somehow. That they are just my opponents who are doing the same job as me, who came to the same conference as me. Yes, he wants this fight, he wants the title, and I don’t want to give up my title. That is, I’m not here to just give fights. And I want to win, I want to see in his record that he does not have a zero in the defeat graph.
- Arum on Bivol-Ramirez fight, mentioned Beterbiev and Canelo
By the way, about his record. He has more fights and knockouts than you.
– I said already, I’m not sure that my career will even last up to 44 fights. It is unlikely that I will box so much in my professional career. Yes, it’s a lot of experience, but most of his fights can be compared to my amateur experience. That is, the rivals cannot be said that they were super top. I also have very good opponents in my amateur baggage. Let not such long fights were, but nevertheless, I also have enough experience.
– And if we compare Zurdo Ramirez and Beterbiev, who has even fewer fights than you? What can you say about his record, about his fights?
— Beterbiev also has a huge amateur experience. He came to professional boxing already prepared. It’s like a professional boxer had about 20 fights, I guess. That is, he had such confidence, the same skills.
– And how long have you sparred with Ramirez?
– About 3-4 years ago.
— Have you met Beterbiev?
– We didn’t have sparring with Beterbiev, there was such work, working off, probably. I don’t know, it’s hard to call it sparring.
What do you remember about Ramirez? What do you remember?
– To be honest, I didn’t remember anything surprising, which I could say now.
“I wanted to ask you to describe Ramirez in three words. How can you describe it?
– Tall, left-handed, hitting the body.
Gvozdyk sparring with Ramirez. What is your reaction?
– Of course, there is a similarity in the school. That is, we have a Soviet boxing school. It is mobile, there is something similar, yes. Gvozdik is a mobile boxer working at a distance, on a shuttle. Yes, there are similarities.
– Benavidez said that you have a very good “one-two” (deuce left-right, approx. vRINGe). What do you think about David Benavidez since you sparred?
Benavidez is a very sensitive boxer. He has very good timing. He knows when to hit. The second point is that he has a very good serialization, he hits well in series. And, in principle, a good defense, I would say.
- Canelo fought injured? Bivol replied to the words of Carnation
– You sparred with Benavidez, you went to fight with Canelo, who will win in their joint fight?
– I do not even know. I generally don’t like such things, but it will be a very interesting fight, in fact, very competitive. It will be important who chooses what tactics in battle and how they approach the battle. It’s a very competitive fight and either one of them can win.
– I recently interviewed Zurdo and he said: “Guys, put the house on me!”
– I do not recommend putting any money on someone, to be honest. Don’t ever bet money on me, please.
– Mustache – Tyson Fury, what’s your prediction?
– Honestly, I don’t know, but it’s a very interesting fight.
— In general, is the size of a fighter a strong factor? Canelo was smaller than you, now you are boxing with Zurdo, who is bigger than you, can it be the same with Usyk? Does it matter to you?
– In general, of course, the size in boxing matters, because it is not in vain that weight categories were invented. What about me? We weighed the same the day before the fight. And then, how many who scored – it no longer plays a role so much. What about Usyk and Fury? Usyk will be faster, I think, than Fury.
