Light heavyweight | Dmitry Bivol defeats Canelo Alvarez to retain WBA title

(Las Vegas) Huge surprise in Las Vegas: Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, considered the best boxer in all categories and a favorite as such, lost by unanimous decision to the formidable Dmitry Bivol, who retains his WBA midfielder title. -heavy.

The Mexican did not go down once, even taking all the blows that rained on him and there were many. But he fell from above all the same, because in return he never really knew how to find the fault, to prevent the march forward of his tough opponent, rewarded by the three judges who agreed with a count of 115-113 each.

In view of the domination of the 31-year-old Russian, who remains undefeated in 20 fights, all won including 11 before the limit, the score could however have been wider. But Canelo, by his stature and his status, could not be so overwhelmed, in front of an audience won over to his cause, in a mariachi atmosphere prolonging the celebrations of “Cinco de mayo”, the Mexican independence day.

Because he who praised before their confrontation the qualities of pugilist of Bivol, his speed as much as his intelligence, was received. It seemed unresolved, almost from start to finish.

black look

The Russian has often taken advantage of his size advantage, six centimeters, to keep his opponent at a distance. But not only: his left jabs also often hit the mark and his right often pierced the gloves to land on the Mexican’s steel face.

The latter quickly seemed annoyed by the situation, especially since when he placed his big right hooks, widening his movement to pass over Bivol’s arms, the latter did not seem too affected.

This scenario was repeated in the first part of the fight, even if Canelo varied his boxing as much as possible, as if to find a flaw that would never really appear, except from below, like this huge uppercut from the right to the end of the 4^and reprise.

Bivol quickly adapted to this strategy and even increased in intensity, chaining a series of quick shots, which cornered the Mexican on the ropes on several occasions. The glare, Canelo, even enjoined him to continue hitting him as if to say: “Not bad at all”.

By using the bluff, Alvarez actually betrayed an inability to turn things around. Because Bivol continued to put him under pressure, without being overwhelmed by the frustration of not being able to send his rival to the mat, yet marked in the face as rarely.

Revenge in sight

Supported by his fans, Canelo had a good reaction of pride at the 9^and round, hitting very hard to the body and finally placing two big straight lines, including an uppercut.

But the Russian also has a chin and when some might have recoiled, doubted, trembled, attacked him again, winning the last two rounds with panache, with the desire to finish with K.-O ..

He failed to do so, but in doing so his victory was unchallenged. Not even in the words of Alvarez on the in-ring mic.

“He’s a great champion. In boxing you win and you lose, today it was my turn to lose,” he admitted. “I felt the difference in weight, but it’s not an excuse,” added the boxer from Guadalajara who has indeed climbed a category, after unifying the titles in the super middleweight.

In 2019, he had succeeded in this bet by seizing the WBO belt against another Russian, Sergey Kovalev. This time, the step was too high and here he is, at 31, conceding the second defeat (57 wins, 2 draws) of his career, after that against Floyd Mayweather in 2013.

“I can’t stop there,” he said, calling for a rematch. “No problem,” Bivol replied.