FIGHT WEEK
Light heavyweight titleholder Dmitry Bivol meets unbeaten Gilberto Ramirez in the Russian’s first fight since upsetting Canelo Alvarez in May. Also, 168-pound contender David Morrell faces arguably his toughest test in Aidos Yerbossynuly.
DMITRY BIVOL (20-0, 11 KOs) VS. GILBERTO RAMIREZ (44-0, 30 KOs)
- When: Saturday, Nov. 5
- Time: 1:30 p.m. ET / 10:30 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
- Where: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- TV/Stream: DAZN
- Division: Light heavyweight (175 pounds)
- At stake: Bivol’s WBA title
- Pound-for-pound ranking: Bivol No. 6
- Odds: Bivol 4-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
- Also on the card: Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov vs. Zelfa Barrett, junior lightweights (for vacant IBF title); Chantelle Cameron vs. Jessica McCaskill, junior welterweights (for Cameron’s IBF and WBC titles); Galal Yafai vs. Gohan Rodriguez Garcia, flyweights
- Prediction: Bivol UD
- Background: Bivol is coming off by far the biggest victory of his successful career, a clear decision over Canelo Alvarez in May. The Southern California-based Russian technician outboxed his more-heralded Mexican counterpart to win by a score of 115-113 on all three cards, which most observers thought was too close. Boxing Junkie scored it 117-111 for Bivol, nine rounds to three. He could face a tougher test on Saturday. Ramirez is unbeaten over 13 years as a professional for a reason. The former 168-pound titleholder is a good boxer with power and durability, as he has demonstrated repeatedly against solid opposition. His most notable victories were two close, but unanimous decisions over capable Jesse Hart in 2017 and 2018, the latter of which was his final fight as a super middleweight. He’s 5-0 as a light heavyweight, including a fourth-round knockout of Dominic Boesel in May. Of course, Bivol is a significant step up in opposition for Ramirez. Thus, it’s no surprise that Bivol is a 4-1 favorite to have his hand raised.
DAVID MORRELL (7-0, 6 KOs) VS. AIDOS YERBOSSYNULY (16-0, 11 KOs)
- When: Saturday, Nov. 5
- Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 P.m. PT (main event later in show)
- Where: The Armory, Minneapolis
- TV/Stream: Showtime
- Division: Super middleweight (168 pounds)
- At stake: No major titles
- Pound-for-pound ranking: None
- Odds: NA
- Also on the card: Jeison Rosario vs. Brian Mendoza, junior middleweights; Fiodor Czerkaszyn vs. Nathaniel Gallimore, middleweights; Andre Dirrell vs. Yunieski Gonzalez, light heavyweights
- Prediction: Morrell UD
- Background: Morrell, a gifted boxer-puncher weened in the Cuban amateur system, has made a strong impression with his skill set and punching power in only seven professional fights after defecting to the U.S. The resident of Minneapolis is coming off a fourth-round knockout of Kalvin Henderson this past June, his fourth consecutive stoppage. He’s the WBA’s top contender, below only champion Canelo Alvarez. Yerbossnynuly is ranked just below Morrell. The Las Vegas-based Kazakh is a solid technician with heavy hands, as Lennox Allen discovered in Yerbossnynuly’s most recent fight. The American was broken down and stopped in the 10th of 12 scheduled rounds 13 months ago in Kazakhstan. Morrell fought Allen in his third fight, winning a near-shutout decision in a 12-rounder for the “interim” WBA title.
ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK
TUESDAY
- Hiroto Kyoguchi vs. Kenshiro Teraji, flyweights (for Kyoguchi’s WBA and Teraji’s WBC titles), Saitama, Japan (ESPN+).
THURSDAY
- Callum Walsh vs. Delen Parsley, junior middleweights, Montebello, California (UFC Fight Pass).
FRIDAY
- Kendo Castaneda vs. Antonio Moran, junior welterweights, Plant City, Florida (ProBox TV).
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