Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on September 28.
There will be nothing like Gilberto Ramirez if he wins on November 5 in the United Arab Emirates (DAZN).
That’s because “Zurdo” will defeat the man (Dmitry Bivol) who beat the man (Canelo Alvarez), which is sometimes a quick road to new, life-changing recognition. in a sport can cause soreness in that department.
That’s the next best thing to beating Alvarez on your own.
“This will be my chance [show] my full potential,” Ramirez told Boxing Junkie.
Ramirez (44-0.30 KOs) hit it off in his 13-year career, where he reigned as world champion at 168 pounds for three years and then went on to win won after going up to 175. And the perfect record is amazing. How many boxers start their careers with 44 wins?
However, the upcoming fight against Bivol is an opportunity to get close to the star, which has kept the 31-year-old Mexican evasive.
Of course, he has to win. And that won’t be easy. The Russian entered the ring to face Alvarez in May with a reputation as a good boxer but he walked out of it with his 175-pound title still intact and something like reverence, for Alvarez’s reputation.
That is not lost in Ramirez, who knows what he is up against. At the same time, he insists his biggest challenges come from within.
“I always try to prove to myself that I can do it,” he said. “The hardest thing is to believe in yourself. That’s why I came to boxing, that’s why I say that the hardest challenge of my whole career is myself. And I believe in myself, in what I can do.
“I was on the dark side, I was on the good side. And here I am still standing.”
What next if he wins?
The obvious route would be to pursue a united struggle with fellow Artur Beterbiev, although the Russian was injured while training for the October battle against Anthony Yarde and his future is uncertain. sure.
The battle that Ramirez most desires will be with his countryman, Alvarez.
Ramirez imagines a packed Estadio Azteca, the stadium in Mexico City, home to 130,000 fans for a battle between Julio Cesar Chavez, Ramirez’s idol, and Greg Haugen in 1993.
The question is whether Alvarez is interested. He was not eager to face the Mexicans.
“That was, of course, the main goal, to face him,” he said of a potential meeting with Alvarez. “Two great warriors in the ring, two great warriors. People are asking for it. They want to see that fight happen.
“… It has to be something appealing,” he added, referring to any reluctance by Alvarez. “Then he will [fight me] sure.”
Now imagine if Ramirez could break through that gauntlet – Bivol, Beterbiev and Alvarez – with his record unscathed. It was not a dream for him. That is a plan.
He was asked what his ultimate goal is in boxing. He replied: “Become a legend.”
