BIVOL VS. ZURDO PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

ABU DHABI, UAE (August 31, 2022) – WBA Light Heavyweight Champion Dmitry Bivol (20-0, 11 KOs) and former WBO Super Middleweight Champion Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez hosted a press conference today ahead of their showdown for the WBA Light Heavyweight World Title. The 12-round match is the first fight under the newly installed "Champion Series," which will take place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Saturday Nov. 5, live to subscribers worldwide on DAZN (excluding South Korea and MENA).

Below are what participants from today's press conference had to say about the upcoming World Championship fight:

DMITRY BIVOL, CURRENT WBA LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TITLEHOLDER:

“First of all, hello everyone and thank you for coming. Yes, maybe it’s one of the toughest fights in my career. I’m thinking like that every time before my fights. I want to say thank you to you Eddie and Matchroom, and everyone in Abu Dhabi. Everyone who wanted to make this fight.

"I’m glad to defend my title in Abu Dhabi. I heard this is the first time that someone has defended a World Title in Abu Dhabi. It’s great to be the first. I hope it’s not the last time in Abu Dhabi. Thank you to Ramirez for this fight. I know he wanted this fight a long time. Me too. Now it will happen. He is a good fighter and I like challenges. I like to fight against the guy who has won 44 fights and who is bigger than me and taller than me. This is a big challenge for me. I hope it will be a great fight on November 5.

"I have to be focused only on this fight. Every time when I have a fight I’m focused on that fight. Of course I have great plans in my head, I want to be the best fighter in the world. I want to get more belts, but now I have a big fight against a good fighter. I try to be focused only on November 5.”

"ZURDO" RAMIREZ, FORMER WBO SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION AND MANDATORY CHALLENGER:

“Thank you. Thank you everyone. Thank you for having us and for the hospitality. I’m glad to be here in Abu Dhabi. It’s my first time here and I feel like I’m at home because it’s the same weather as back home in Mazatlán, Mexico – hot and humid. It’s perfect for me.

"Thank you Matchroom and thank you to Golden Boy for making this possible. I’m looking forward to getting that title on November 5 to become a two-time World Champion. I think it will be a great night, an exciting fight for everyone. Even for me, I can’t wait for this fight. I’ve been waiting so long for this moment and I just want to say thank you to Dmitry Bivol for taking this fight.

"I think we’re going to put on a great show for all of the fans and for Abu Dhabi. It will be a great night. He is one of the greatest 175 pounders’ and he beat one of the greatest fighters in boxing too. Congratulations to him. I knew he would be a tough fight for Canelo. It was a great night for Bivol because he beat him by unanimous decision. It was great. What can I tell you? I’m 44 fights and 44 wins."