WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol (22-0) returns to the ring to face his mandatory challenger, the undefeated former super middleweight world champion, Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez (44-0) this Saturday at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Matchroom Boxing and DAZN have partnered with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi to produce fight nights there and they will be known as ‘Champion Series’ events. The last time we saw Bivol in the ring, he defended his WBA light heavyweight title in a seismic upset as he would defeat pound-for-pound great Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in Las Vegas on points back in May with a sensational performance.
The man looking to stop Bivol’s momentum, Ramirez, stepped up to the light heavyweight division in 2019 following a lengthy stint as WBO super middleweight champion. Ramirez has strung four victories together as a light heavyweight, all of which have come by knockout, and it was Dominic Boesel who last fell fate to a Ramirez knockout.
The undercard is not short of talent too, as the chief support sees undisputed welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill (12-2) step down to super lightweight to challenge undefeated IBF and WBC champion Chantelle Cameron (16-0). The vacant WBA and WBO titles have been added to this bout meaning a new undisputed champion will be crowned.
The world title action doesn’t stop there, as the now vacant IBF super featherweight title will be up for grabs when Shavkat Rakhimov (16-0-1) and Zelfa Barrett (28-1) collide. This bout was supposed to be Joe Cordina defending the IBF belt which he won in June, but he was stripped of the title following an injury, meaning Barrett gets his golden opportunity.
Team GB’s 2020 Olympic king Galal Yafai (2-0) returns for the third time as a pro, as he looks to continue his blistering rise through the ranks when he faces Gohan Rodiguez Garcia (12-1-1). Galal’s brother, former world champion, Kal Yafai (26-1) makes his long-awaited return as he squares off with Jerald Paclar (16-5-3).
Oldham’s Aqib Fiaz (9-0) also travels to Abu Dhabi as he looks to make it double figures in the win column when he faces Diego Valtierra (6-5-2). The ever-improving Campbell Hatton (8-0) also returns in Abu Dhabi, as he looks to continue his momentum from his victory in Sheffield in August.
Bivol and Ramirez are the centre piece launch a new venture for Matchroom and DAZN as they square off in the inaugural Champion Series at the Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi.