MASAM SPORTS 79: DMITRY BIVOL IS THE LEADING CANDIDATE FOR 2022 FIGHTER OF THE YEAR
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 07 Nov 2022
Dmitry Bivol dominated Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez to retain his WBA light heavyweight title during their DAZN main event Saturday evening at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The scores were 118-110, 117-111 and 117-111 for Bivol to win convincingly and made the tenth defense of the title belt he wore for more than five years.
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Several experts share the view that 2022 is a Fighter of the Year performance for Bivol. He won over Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in another scintillating victory against the top pound for pound fighter from Mexico. He clearly outclassed previously undefeated mandatory challenger Ramirez to defend his WBA title.
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“I’m glad to have beaten Zurdo,” Bivol told reporters during the post-fight press conference. “44 fights he won before. Now I’m the first to beat him. Three years ago, I first wanted to fight him. This means a lot to me.”
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Bivol now has an immaculate record of 21-0, 11 KOs while Ramirez suffered his first defeat and dropped to 44-1, 30 KOs. It was Ramirez's first title fight in nearly four years. The 31-year-old southpaw from Mazatlan, Mexico has demanded this fight for a longtime now and fought fiercely to become the mandatory challenger.
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“I did my job, I went to the body,” Ramirez told DAZN. “I thought I did enough to win. The judges, they did their job. Congratulations to (BIvol).”
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The Compubox stats had Ramirez throwing 235 more punches than Bivol. Ramirez threw 878 to Bivol's 643 but connected fewer punches resulting in a much lower percentage landed. Ramirez was 107-of-878 for 12.2% in total punches, compared to 131-of-643 (20.4%) for Bivol.
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The win over Ramirez reinforced Bivol’s upset win over Alvarez on Cinco de Mayo weekend in Las Vegas. Alvarez was the 2021 Fighter of the Year and undisputed super middleweight champion, who moved up to light heavyweight but was beaten by Bivol for the WBA light heavyweight crown.
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That magnificent victory over Canelo plus his performance on Saturday defeating Ramirez made Bivol the primary candidate for 2022 Male Fighter of the Year.
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There were talks that Bivol could move down to 168 lbs and challenge Alvarez’s undisputed super middleweight title, then surge back to the light heavyweight division for a four-belt championship unification with lineal/WBC/IBF/WBO champion Artur Beterbiev (18-0, 18 KOs).
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The two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was sidelined for the first time this season, but the Milwaukee Bucks increased their unblemished record to 9-0 Saturday with a 108-94 victory over Oklahoma City Thunder.
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Antetokounmpo had a left knee soreness a night after he finished his first triple-double of the season in a victory over Minnesota Timberwolves. Brook Lopez took over with 25 points as the Bucks surged on their already best-ever flawless start of the season.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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