Bivol v Ramirez Preview - August 2026

Two undefeated fighters going head-to-head for a world title is always an intriguing prospect, and this Saturday’s clash between Dmitry Bivol and Gilberto Ramirez is no different. The fact that the bout is taking place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi only adds to the hype surrounding the encounter, as it will be the first-ever world title fight to be held in the city.

Bivol on a roll

Whilst Dmitry Bivol has eight defences of his WBA ‘Super’ World light-heavyweight title to his name, the Russian only shot to global stardom following his recent victory over pound-for-pound king Canelo Alvarez. That dominant victory over Canelo was widely hailed as one of the best individual performances of recent years and placed Bivol firmly in the pound-for-pound debate. The latest Ring magazine ratings have Biovl placed as the 7th best boxer in the world.

Bivol’s success against Canelo was built on his long-range accuracy and powerful jab. His world-class footwork also befuddled the Mexican and has become a staple of Bivol’s style. With an impressive amateur record of 268 wins, Bivol has a high boxing IQ and can be an extremely difficult man to hit. His record of 11 knockouts in 20 fights demonstrates that he is capable of winning either inside the distance or on the judges’ decision.

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Ramirez is back in the big time

Gilberto Ramirez will always have a place in the history books, as the first-ever Mexican to win a world title at super middleweight. That title was achieved thanks to a unanimous 2016 victory over Arthur Abraham, and Ramirez’s legacy was cemented by five title defences, before he decided to move up to light heavyweight in 2018.

The Mexican is undefeated in five bouts at the higher weight division, which has taken his overall record to a hugely impressive 44-0. However, he has not met anybody who possesses the class and resume of Bivol. If he is to dethrone the Russian, Ramirez will have to utilise his fearsome body punches and hope that the champion struggles against his southpaw stance.

One factor likely to be in Ramirez’s favour will be the crowd in Abu Dhabi. The Mexican’s exciting, fast-paced style has earned him the nickname ‘Zurdo do Oro’, which translates as ‘Golden Southpaw’ and he enjoys massive support whenever he fights.

Who’s undefeated record will go?

That’s the big question ahead of Saturday night. The bookmakers favour the champion and Bivol is a heavy odds-on favourite to retain his belt. Of course, the best boxing bookmakers know that this is elite boxing and all fighters are capable of finishing a fight with a single punch. As such, they are not completely discounting the Mexican’s chances of causing an upset.

That being said, most experts believe this is Bivol’s fight to lose. Aside from Canelo, Bivol has a string of world-class names on his CV, and he appears to be improving with age. Given Ramirez’s relative lack of action in recent years - he has fought just five times since the start of 2019 - this looks like an extremely tall order for the likeable Mexican.

The contrasting styles of the two fighters is likely to lead to Bivol looking to box at length and utilise his world-class jab. Ramirez will know that his best chance lies in tagging Bivol with some powerful body shots, although that will be a very tough task against a fighter with Bivol’s boxing acumen.

It promises to be a fascinating encounter. So sit back, check out the latest betting offers and promotions for the fight, and enjoy one of the most eagerly anticipated bouts of the year.

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