Given a choice between a money-spinning rematch with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez or the chance at undisputed against fellow light-heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev, Dmitry Bivol favours history over hard cash.
That, however, does not mean he is looking beyond the similarly undefeated and dangerous Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez in Abu Dhabi next week.
“No, I’m not underestimating him,” Bivol said in the capital on Tuesday, 11 days out from his WBA light-heavyweight title defence at Etihad Arena, as Abu Dhabi welcomes big-time boxing for the first time to the emirate.
“I look only at [Ramirez]. You look like you’re underestimating, because you ask me about the next [fight]. But my schedule until November 5 is that I try to be focused only on November 5.
“It’s hard. Of course, you have dreams, you have plans. But every time I cut everything that comes into my head until after the fight. I just want to leave [it] until that day.”
Unbeaten in all 20 bouts as a professional, Bivol makes the ninth defence of the WBA crown a week on Saturday, one half of the headline bout in the inaugural event of the new "Champion Series" partnership signed between the Department of Culture and Tourism and Matchroom Boxing.
Bivol, who has held his belt for almost five full years, squares off against Ramirez, a former WBO super-middleweight champion from Mexico.
In 2019, the powerful southpaw moved up to 175 lbs and has gone 5-0 since. He comes into Abu Dhabi as the WBA’s No 1 mandatory challenger following an emphatic fourth-round knockout of Dominic Boesel in May.
Like Bivol, Ramirez has never tasted defeat in his pro career - a run that stretches 44 fights. Thus, Bivol is aware of the threat posed.
"Of course, in my training camp I had only southpaw training partners," he said. "Two-and-half months, I sparred only with southpaws who are taller than me, who are faster than Zurdo. It will help me.”
Bivol has been based in the capital for the past month. Zurdo, in contrast, arrived in the UAE only late last week.
“I don’t know what plan for camp he has,” Bivol said. “But mine was just to be here a month before to get used to the weather, don’t cut our preparation.
“I don’t know if it means an advantage. Doesn’t matter for me. I just know my camp was good. One of the best? Maybe. I can tell you only after the fight.”
Get the win on November 5, and the post-fight talk will centre, understandably, on Alvarez or Beterbiev. The former is the undisputed super-middleweight champion and boxing’s lead superstar, whom Bivol defeated by unanimous decision in May in comfortably the most high-profile success of his career.
Beterbiev, meanwhile, resides currently as the unified light-heavyweight champion, in possession of the IBF, WBC and WBO belts.
Recent speculation has suggested Bivol, should he get through Ramirez, would opt next for the unbeaten Canadian-Russian instead of Alvarez.
But he said: “It’s not that I don’t want this rematch, or I want a rematch. It’s not my priority now. I wanted [the first fight with Alvarez], I wanted that people know me, know who I am, know how’s my skills.
“I got what I wanted, to be honest, and I want to move forward for other belts, other opponents, other achievements.”
Still, Alvarez 2 provides a, perhaps, unrivalled payday.
“Of course. I didn’t say I don’t want to fight him for any reason. If it’s good pay, of course I will fight, let’s talk about this. But it’s not my priority, like I said.
“To earn money maybe is good. But if you see the money and the other belts, the other belt is more interesting for me. You can spend the money and everyone forgets about it.
“But belts are history. I would be glad to be the undisputed champion. It’s a great thing."
That said, it is a decision for beyond Abu Dhabi next week.
“I asked my team before: ‘Let’s move for other belts; I want to fight for other belts’,” Bivol said. "But it doesn’t depend only on me, only on my team, only my promoters. It’s many reasons.
“It’s sad. There’s many politics in boxing; it’s not the UFC. And I understand this. But I hope, because people want to see this fight. it will happen.
"But first of all, I have to fight Zurdo. And I hope this fight will push me forward to other belts.”
Seven tips from Emirates NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
MATCH INFO
CAF Champions League semi-finals first-leg fixtures
Tuesday:
Primeiro Agosto (ANG) v Esperance (TUN) (8pm UAE)
Al Ahly (EGY) v Entente Setif (ALG) (11PM)
Second legs:
October 23
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
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The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
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Results
4pm: Maiden; Dh165,000 (Dirt); 1,400m
Winner: Solar Shower; William Lee (jockey); Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
4.35pm: Handicap; Dh165,000 (D); 2,000m
Winner: Thaaqib; Antonio Fresu; Erwan Charpy.
5.10pm: Maiden; Dh165,000 (Turf); 1,800m
Winner: Bila Shak; Adrie de Vries; Fawzi Nass
5.45pm: Handicap; Dh175,000 (D); 1,200m
Winner: Beachcomber Bay; Richard Mullen; Satish Seemar
6.20pm: Handicap; Dh205,000 (T); 1,800m
Winner: Muzdawaj; Jim Crowley; Musabah Al Muhairi
6.55pm: Handicap; Dh185,000 (D); 1,600m
Winner: Mazeed; Tadhg O’Shea; Satish Seemar
7.30pm: Handicap; Dh205,000 (T); 1,200m
Winner: Riflescope; Tadhg O’Shea; Satish Seemar.
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
