Bivol vs. Ramirez: Finally Zurdo in High Level Matchup

Bivol vs. Ramirez: Finally Zurdo in High Level Matchup

Finally the time has arrived for Gilberto Ramirez to fight a top tier opponent this Saturday night streaming live on DAZN. The only problem with Zurdo stepping up it means challenging arguably the best light heavyweight on the planet in Dmitry Bivol. Bivol is fresh off a career-defining win over Canelo Alvarez the current face of boxing. If Dmitry gets the win as long as it’s not questionable Bivol is basically a shoe-in for fighter of the year. The undercard has two really good fights in Chantelle Cameron vs. Jessica McCaskill (Pick’em) and Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov vs. Zelfa Barret. The Grueling Truth will always be on the look out for the best Boxing odds for you!

Best sportsbooks for betting on Bivol/Zurdo

4.6/5

FanDuel Review

New Users – Get $350 in Bonus Bets when you wager $5 for 7 days

Bet now

Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT). Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 21+ (18+ D.C., KY, WY) and present in select states (for KS, in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino). First online real money wager only. Min $5 wager required for 7 consecutive days.$5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Call 1-877-770-7867 (LA). ™/© 2026 MLB

4.5/5

BetMGM Review

Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win

Bet now

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (Available in the US) 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Promotional offers not available in Mississippi, New York, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.

4.5/5

DraftKings Review

New DraftKings Customer: SPEND $5, GET $200 IN BONUSES

Bet now

To be eligible for DraftKings Sportsbook and the Promotion, you must be physically located in AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA (select parishes), MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NH, NY, OH, OR, PA, PR (residents only), TN, VA, VT, WY, WV, CA-ONT or CA-AB (each an “Eligible Jurisdiction” or, collectively, the “Eligible Jurisdictions”). Must be 21+ years of age or older (18+ if in DC/NH/PR/WY/CA-AB) (19+ in CA-ONT). GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA) Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/NH/PR/WY). Void in CAN. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new DraftKings customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $200 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets. Stake removed from payout. Reward issued as $50 in Bonus Bets every 7 days via click-to-claim for 21 days. Bonus Bets and click-to-claims expire 7 days (168hrs) after issuance. Terms: Promos | DraftKings Sportsbook . Ends 9/20/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.

Back in May Dmitry Bivol did what some in the boxing world deemed almost impossible by defeating superstar Canelo Alvarez. All three scorecards read 115-113 and rightfully so because it was a clean well earned victory. Instead of exercising a rematch clause Alvarez chose a different route involving the trilogy fight with Gennadiy Golovkin. Now it appears Bivol is more concerned about his current division at 175 and if he gets by Ramirez claims to be very interested in meeting up with Artur Beterbiev and a chance at undisputed.

Saturday will be Gilberto’s 45th bout as a professional and it’s crazy to think this will be his first true top level foe. A fading Sullivan Barrera was a good win as was his two meetings with a solid fighter in Jessie Hart. Zurdo’s first title shot came against a way-past-his-prime Arthur Abraham all the way back in 2016 if you can believe that. An opportunity of a lifetime present itself, what will Gilberto Ramirez do with it? Is Zurdo ready for such a high step up the ladder or did all the waiting around facing too many mediocre boxers stunt his growth? To be fair there are not many boxers that could actually help him prepare for Bivol’s style. Maybe several years back Sergey Kovalev would be a good test because of his fundamental jab but he’s more of a pressure guy.

Regardless if Gilberto’s ready or not being the aggressor and making this a rough and tumble night is really the only path to the promise land for Zurdo. Using his jab and head movement to close the gap and get close enough to land meaningful punches. Another obvious item beyond remaining active with his punch rate is attacking the body early and often. Ramirez can’t allow Bivol to get comfortable in the early rounds if at all to be honest. Taking the fight to Dmitry along with dirty tactics might fluster him enough to ask for help from the ref. Not just that but Dmitry wouldn’t be able to consistently catch Ramirez coming in and/or at the end of his punch. Bivol has an elite jab and will throw from a variety of angles and speeds.

Whether it only takes a few rounds or the first half of the fight Bivol skill level, punch accuracy, and overall sharp boxing mind will take over the fight. That is why it’s paramount to not allow Bivol to find his timing and comfortable range thus controlling the action. Prior to the Canelo performance we did see some holes in Dmitry Bivol’s game when he was getting rough up at times in a few outings. Canelo didn’t have the workrate to slow down Bivol and even Alvarez a decent defender wasn’t able to go from defense to offense effectively. Bivol is just a bridge to far to cross for an untested Ramirez. This will turn all the way one-sided by the 5th or 6th round in favor of Bivol.

My Official Prediction is Dmitry Bivol by Unanimous Decision.

Best Sportsbook bonuses for betting on boxing

1.

4.6/5

FanDuel Promo Code

New Users – Get $350 in Bonus Bets when you wager $5 for 7 days

USA Players Welcome

Wagering (WR): New Users – Get $350 in Bonus Bets when you wager $5 for 7 days ($50 Bonus Bets per day)

Open FanDuel

Get bonus now

Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT). Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 21+ (18+ D.C., KY, WY) and present in select states (for KS, in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino). First online real money wager only. Min $5 wager required for 7 consecutive days.$5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Call 1-877-770-7867 (LA). ™/© 2026 MLB

2.

4.5/5

BetMGM Promo Code

Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win

USA Players Welcome

Min. Deposit: $5

Open BetMGM

Get bonus now

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (Available in the US) 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Promotional offers not available in Mississippi, New York, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.

3.

4.5/5

DraftKings Promo Code

New DraftKings Customer: SPEND $5, GET $200 IN BONUSES

USA Players Welcome

Wagering (WR): New DraftKings Customer Offer: SPEND $5, GET $200 IN BONUSES ($50 in Bonus Bets every 7 days for 21 days)*, Min. Deposit: 5

Open DraftKings

Get bonus now

To be eligible for DraftKings Sportsbook and the Promotion, you must be physically located in AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA (select parishes), MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NH, NY, OH, OR, PA, PR (residents only), TN, VA, VT, WY, WV, CA-ONT or CA-AB (each an “Eligible Jurisdiction” or, collectively, the “Eligible Jurisdictions”). Must be 21+ years of age or older (18+ if in DC/NH/PR/WY/CA-AB) (19+ in CA-ONT). GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA) Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/NH/PR/WY). Void in CAN. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new DraftKings customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $200 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets. Stake removed from payout. Reward issued as $50 in Bonus Bets every 7 days via click-to-claim for 21 days. Bonus Bets and click-to-claims expire 7 days (168hrs) after issuance. Terms: Promos | DraftKings Sportsbook . Ends 9/20/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.

4.

4.2/5

Fanatics Promo Code

10 x $100 bet match in FanCash

USA Players Welcome

Open Fanatics

Get bonus now

Must be 21+. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER OR CALL 1-800-MY-RESET, www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), (800)-327-5050 or gamblinghelplinema.org (MA), Call (877)8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), (888) 789-7777 or ccpg.org (CT), morethanagame.nc.gov (NC), 1800gambler.net (WV)

5.

Caesars Promo Code

Bet $1 and get double the winnings up to $25 for your next 10 bets

USA Players Welcome

Wagering (WR): 1x Deposit

Best Alternative

Open FanDuel

21+ New users only. Must register using eligible promo code. First bet after registration must qualify. Max. Bonus Bet: $1,000. Bonus Bet expires 14 days after receipt. Void where prohibited. See Caesars.com/promos for full terms. Gambling Problem? 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)

Side Note: Showtime has a tripleheader as well on Saturday headlined by David Morrell in his adopted home town of Minneapolis fighting Aidos Yerbossynuly along with Jeison Rosario vs. Brian Mendoza and 160-pound prospect Fiodor Czerkaszyn. Don’t forget Andre Dirrell vs. Yunieski Gonzalez on Showtime’s YouTube/Facebook .

Written by Chris Carlson Host/Producer of The Rope A Dope Radio Podcast Available at www.blogtalkradio.com/ropeadoperadio Follow on Twitter @RopeADopeRadio