By: Sean Cross
“I had a very big dream to win this belt and I don’t want to let it go,” said WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol on the eve of his title defense against undefeated Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez. “I’m going to fight for it and I want to keep it. I want more. I feel like there’s something in me that I need to realize to be happy at the end of my career. Bivol surprised a lot of people last spring when he decisively beat the one and only Canelo Alvarez. But now he’s not only a former world champion, but like Canelo – for a while.” He has to face a 44-0 fighter who only works as a lightweight.
“I’ve been in three places in training camp,” Bivol said at the final press conference ahead of Saturday’s fight at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena. “I had a good camp everywhere. The last place was Abu Dhabi. I have been here since September 27.Th. I feel like I have everything I need for training. When I thought of resting, I had everything to rest here. When I met people at the gym or at the mall, everyone was so happy. People have been very welcoming to me and my team. People here welcome every tourist. that’s nice.”
Indeed, Bivol took a moment during the press conference to thank the fight’s host nation. “I’m looking forward to Saturday night,” he told the media. “I believe it will be an interesting fight. Abu Dhabi holds many boxing matches and perhaps boxing is the main sport in Abu Dhabi. I hope so because this is my favorite sport in the world. I want to be everywhere, and people know the sport. it’s great. Thank you all.
As for those who believe he peaked when he picked Canlo last spring, Bivol made it clear he doesn’t want to hear that kind of stuff. “When people tell me I’ve achieved everything, it’s like pouring water on a fire,” he said. “I try to think only about my dreams to realize my full potential. Every time I try to be hungry and angry and I try to focus on training and my opponents. I try to think about how this Saturday night will be the toughest fight of my career. It makes me more focused at night.”
