WBA light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol returns to the ring on November 5 in Abu Dhabi, his first outing since a majestic upset win over pound-for-pound superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez this year.
Bivol (20-0, 11 KOs) has another Mexican problem to solve in the form of Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez, an imposing southpaw who also boasts an unblemished professional record (44-0, 30 KOs).
Someone’s 0 has to go in what promises to be an enthralling main event at the Etihad Arena, but there is also a stacked undercard featuring further world title action.
Here’s all you need to know about what will go down on a historic night of world championship boxing in the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
Chantelle Cameron vs. Jessica McCaskill — undisputed super-lightweight championship
Women’s boxing is on the crest of a wave and Cameron and McCaskill will look to join the sport’s ranks of undisputed champions when they face off in the co-main event.
Clarissa Shields unified the super-middleweight division with her sensational win over knockout artist Savannah Marshall in London on October 14, while Katie Taylor retained her WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF lightweight crowns against Karen Elizabeth Carabajal at Wembley Arena over the weekend.
McCaskill (12-2, 5KOs), who lost to Taylor back in December 2017, already has the distinction of ruling as an undisputed champion, having stepped up to welterweight to twice beat the great Cecilia Braekhus.
The 38-year-old American vacated her WBA and WBC super-lightweight belts as she campaigned at 147lbs, with Cameron winning the latter belt with a unanimous-decision win over Adriana dos Santos in October 2020.
The 31-year-old former Team GB star added the IBF belt by beating Mary McGee a year later and the WBA and WBO have also put their titles on the line for a fight that should leave no doubt over who is the leading 10-stone fighter in the world.
Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov vs. Zelfa Barrett — vacant IBF super-featherweight title
Joe Cordina was originally scheduled to make the maiden defence of his IBF super-featherweight crown on this card following his sensational one-punch knockout of Kenichi Ogawa in Cardiff in June.
But the Welsh fighter suffered a hand injury in sparring that ruled him out. Having already been granted a medical extension by the IBF, which initially stipulated he must fight Rakhimov (16-0-1, 13 KOs) by September 2, Cordina was stripped of his crown amid speculation he might not be ready to box again until next March.
It means an unexpected opportunity for Manchester boxer Barrett (28-1, 16 KOs), who is on a nine-fight winning streak. The winner can expect to be mandated to face Cordina in the first half of 2023.
Galal Yafai vs. Gohan Garcia — WBC international flyweight title
Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Yafai (2-0, 2KOs) makes the second defence of the belt he won on his professional debut in February.
Each of Yafai’s paid victories have come early and it is hoped Garcia (12-1-1, 1KO) can prove a more durable foe, having never been stopped in his career.
The 21-year-old Mexican is rated 16th in the flyweight division by Boxrec. Yafai is eight years his senior and in a rush to get to the very top.
Kal Yafai, Campbell Hatton & Aqib Fiaz
Galal Yafai’s brother Kal will box for the first time since his ninth-round defeat to the great Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez in February 2020.
It was a first career loss for the elder Yafai (26-1, 15 KOs) and a sixth defence of the WBA super-flyweight crown he claimed by defeating Luis Concepcion in Manchester in December 2016. The 33-year-old will resume his career in the bantamweight division against Jerald Paclar (16-5-3, 9 KOs).
Hatton will aim to move on to 9-0 after some sparring with his dad Ricky, who is in action in an exhibition bout against Marco Antonio Barrera a week later. Denis Bartos (9-5, 6 KOs) will be in the other corner.
MORE: Campbell Hatton on ‘surreal’ sparring with dad Ricky Hatton and his title ambitions
Fiaz has been a sparring partner for stablemate Cameron, who ranks him as “one of my favourite boxers”.
“I watch him sparring and think he’s unreal,” the Jamie Moore-trained world champion told The Sporting News. “Being around Aqib, I learn a lot watching him.”
Diego Valiterra (6-5-2, 2KOs) will get a look at those skills first hand.
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