Former super middleweight champion Gilberto Ramirez believes the circumstances that led to his mandatory shot at Dmitry Bivol have all worked out in his favor.

Ramirez has been chasing Bivol for a crack at the WBA light heavyweight title.

The sanctioning body recently ordered them to fight each other.

Back in May, Bivol shocked the critics when he outboxed Mexican superstar Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez over twelve rounds to retain his strap. 

Canelo had the option to exercise an immediate rematch clause, but he ultimately decided to drop back to super middleweight to defend his undisputed crown against Gennadiy Golovkin in a trilogy fight on September 17.

The unexpected victory made Bivol a much bigger name within the sport - and also a bigger name among fans of boxing.

Ramirez had wanted to face Bivol earlier in the year, but the Russian boxer opted to fight Canelo, which was a more lucrative and more high profile opportunity.

Additionally, Ramirez explains that Bivol showed his class as a top tier fighter - which makes their fight a more high-profile encounter for both parties.

Besides the WBA title, Ramirez wants to absorb Bivol's shine from upsetting Canelo.

"The fact that now a lot of people know Bivol is a good thing because when I fight him, I'm going to get everything he has and especially the world title," Ramiez told DAZN.

“I had the fight with Bivol before Canelo, but he said no, he wanted Canelo first, but it ended up being a good thing for me because he beat Canelo, and you see the credibility of the fighter. The credibility that Bivol has, and now when I fight him, you will see the credibility that Zurdo Ramirez has. I want to be world champion again, unify titles and eventually become a legend.”