Gilberto Ramirez is wise enough to know that a win over Dmitry Bivol is not a foregone conclusion.

That said, ‘Zurdo’ views their upcoming clash as a long overdue coronation.

“I’ve always believed that I am the best light heavyweight and Bivol is the second best,” Ramirez told BoxingScene.com. “That’s the way I see it. That’s why I’ve been asking for that fight. People want to see the fight because he beat one of the best Mexicans. Everyone wants to see this fight.”

Ramirez’s persistence paid off, as he will next challenge for Bivol’s WBA light heavyweight title. The bout is scheduled for November 5 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The opportunity to become a two-division titlist will come nearly four years after Ramirez’s last defense of his WBO super middleweight title. The unbeaten southpaw from Mazatlan, Mexico officially reigned as a 168-pound titlist for more than three years before vacating in May 2019, though having not participated in a major title fight since December 2018 when he scored a repeat win over Jesse Hart.

Five wins have followed since moving up to light heavyweight, all ending inside the distance and leaving Ramirez (44-0, 3KOs) that there isn’t a fighter at the weight who he can’t beat on any given night.

The oddsmakers disagree, as Bivol (20-0, 11KOs) opened as a -550 favorite to make the tenth defense of the version of the WBA light heavyweight title he has held since 2017. Odds are meant to be disproven, as Bivol showed in his most significant win to date. The 31-year-old from Saint Petersburg, Russia via Kyrgyzstan outclassed Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez over twelve rounds on May 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The outcome of that fight has only further fueled Ramirez’s motivation to win his second major title while validating his years-long insistence that he is the best light heavyweight on the planet.  

“I am (the best). I want to prove myself,” said Ramirez. “I want to prove that Zurdo Ramirez will soon be a legend. I want to win this title and break all the records after that.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox