It's actually too bad the reality of the dastardly Russian invasion of Ukraine has totally overshadowed this fight. It's probably one of the precious few times in Canelo's career that I have openly conceded that this is a bonafide opponent, at the height of his powers, with no size advantage that I know of. But overshadow it has... and one has to wonder about Bivol's mindset and training coming into this fight. You have to admit... these are totally new and extenuating circumstances that are difficult to just "blow off."

https://www.boxing247.com/boxing-news/214527/214527

"Dmitry Bivol: ‘I’m Ready For Everything From Canelo’ On May 7th"


The article above has one statement that I sort of disagree with... (which again will be of much dismay to those who view me as just a Canelo hater).

"If Bivol is reluctant to let his hands go, as we saw with the 168-lb champions Billy Joe Saunders, Caleb Plant, Rocky Fielding and Callum Smith all were against Canelo, he’s going to get picked apart."


I actually thought BJS was giving as good as he got up until the time he was injured by that uppercut to the eye socket. To this day some in boxing scratch their heads at how much damage Canelo was able to inflict on a full-blown supermiddle with a single punch... when Canelo himself has come up from light welter. But that's another story for another time, I guess.

The point is that one punch immediately turned the whole fight into a stoppage.

But the rest?? You damn right they were reluctant to let their hands go. Callum Smith IMO turned in the 2nd worst possible performance against Canelo (after Kovalev) as the "bigger man." He fought like Bambi.

Rocky Fielding was garbage... precisely the reason he was targeted for the "trinket-grab."

Caleb Plant fought valiantly... but from outset he was no danger to Canelo... and the entire civilized world knew that. Hardly a suspenseful match.


But yeah. For once we have a credible, dangerous, equal-sized (at least), not-over-the-hill, not-cherry-picked, not-marinated opponent for Canelo..... and then his country up and invades Ukraine.