Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez v Dmitry Bivol - 7th May 2022

[TitoFan]

I’m gonna go out on a limb . I fancy Bivol to win here. Nothing against Canelo, I’ve come to respect him over the last few years, and where you’ll always get some saying “he should fight X” or “he’s ducking Y”, but nobody else is fighting the quality of fighter he is, fight after fight.
But I reckon his matchmaking team have underestimated Bivol. He’s a top champion, he moves well and he can punch.
I’m usually quite safe with my predictions, but I’m all in on Bivol.
And you know what? If Canelo does win, then I give him even more props, because he’ll have proved me wrong.

i feel dmitry is a very dangerous fighter. as well as moving and punching well he also lets his hands go and can throw in bunches. whoever wins this fight will have earned all the admiration the victory will bring. i don't think the loser will lose much here as it's the best v the best and a serious challenge for both guys. the odds on dmitry are good. i just hope there is no controversy

I too, hope there is no controversy. Moreover, I hope Bivol comes to fight. I don't think I can stomach another Kovalev act.

[Master]

Oleksandr Usyk responds to Canelo Alvarez's call for heavyweight showdown

Alvarez told Eddie Hearn that he is willing to step up to heavyweight to face world champion Usyk who himself faces a rematch with Anthony Joshua

Oleksandr Usyk is willing to drop back down to cruiserweight to fight Canelo Alvarez after the Mexican insisted he would jump up to heavyweight to take on his fellow world champion.

Alvarez has won world titles in four weight divisions while Usyk is the former undisputed cruiserweight world champion and current unified heavyweight ruler. The Ukrainian will defend his belts in his rematch with Anthony Joshua in July while Alvarez takes on light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol this weekend.

Alvarez, who has never fought about 175lb, claims he is willing to fight Usyk if a catchweight of 201lb, one pound above the cruiserweight limit, is agreed. In response, Usyk's manager said his charge would be willing to come back down to 200lb.

Usyk's last outing at cruiserweight was three-and-a-half years ago when he stopped Tony Bellew in the eighth round in Manchester. But manager Egis Kilmas wrote on social media: "Be our guest, Usyk will make cruiserweight for this one, but let Canelo concentrate on Bivol for now."

Alvarez's promoter Eddie Hearn revealed the Mexican legend's heavyweight ambitions when he told JOE: "When we talk about mindset and winning, he genuinely believes he can beat Oleksandr Usyk for the world heavyweight title. He said to me ‘if you can make that fight at one pound above cruiserweight I will beat him'.

"I find it hard not to believe him. Sometimes, the only way someone like Canelo Alvarez or Vasyl Lomachenko gets beat is when they keep moving up in weight outside of where they should be. That’s maybe how Canelo Alvarez gets beat, (when) it’s a challenge too far."

Alvarez must first overcome Bivol and then his bitter rival Gennady Golovkin with the final instalment of their trilogy pencilled in for September. Usyk's sequel with Joshua is expected to take place on July 23 with Saudi Arabia the frontrunner to play host.

Last September, Usyk outpointed the Brit to become a two-weight world champion and condemn Joshua to his second defeat in four fights. Should he double up against Joshua, Usyk would also have the opportunity to take on Tyson Fury in an undisputed fight, if Fury reneges on his decision to retire.

The Traveller insists his win over Dillian Whyte last month was his final outing as a professional and will hold talks with the WBC in the coming weeks to establish whether he intends to give up the title he won from Deontay Wilder in 2020.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/boxin...arezs-26882992

[Master]

The six fight plan that could officially make Canelo Alvarez one of the greatest of all time

The aim of every boxer is to be the greatest and Canelo Alvarez is no exception.

The Mexican still feels like he’s got a lot of work to do in order to be regarded as the greatest but has full confidence in himself moving forward.

This weekend he steps into the ring to battle Dmitry Bivol in Las Vegas as he constantly cements his legacy.

Alvarez hasn’t discussed a potential retirement date but he’s built up a resumè consisting of 60 professional fights and will reach the age of 32 this July.

TalkSPORT have recently compiled a list of six potential fights which Canelo could look to tick off which can help him become the all-time great.

The list is based off a strategy Alvarez and many others have used in boxing, choosing opponents whilst attempting to minimise risks and maximise rewards as the Mexican continues to move through weight divisions as the pound-for-pound king.

6. Dmitry Bivol

Lining up with real life, the list of six fights needed for Canelo begins with his next opponent. Bivol is undefeated but it still proves to follow a strategy of picking a weaker champion.

Bivol, while looking explosive in his early career, has won his last six fights by decision which could lead him to be predictable and easy for Canelo to figure out.

5. Gennady Golovkin

These two genuinely dislike each other. Canelo chose to turn down alternate fights to line up the Bivol and Golovkin pathway.

Alvarez only has a few fights that grossed over $100 million, which includes the two against Golovkin and there is still huge public interest in a third fight between the Mexican and his counterpart.

4. Arter Beterbiev

Similar to previous strategies, Arter is a fantastic boxer but could be past his best. He’s undefeated with 17 straight knockout wins and the clear number one at 175lbs but has showed signs of slowing.

He’s suffered from injuries in his career and if he can win against Joe Smith Jr, Canelo could capitalise on Beterbiev’s undisputed title win and may go after the glory in early 2023.

3. Ilunga Makabu

This point stands so long as Makabu is still the weakest cruiserweight holder.

This fight nearly happened late last year when an application was apparently submitted by Canelo’s manager Eddy Reynoso but the boxer himself claimed not to know anything about it.

Makabu has strung many wins together recently but snuck through Thabiso Mchunu by decision meaning he could be vulnerable.

2. Mairis Briedis

This one is less straight forward since Briedis holds an impressive 28-1 record in the cruiserweight division.

Mairis is 39 but has a style that may age well and should Canelo deem it necessary Briedis could find himself being chased by Canelo.

Alvarez could be given the chance to become a four-weight lineal champion which has before been unheard of. It’s the type of victory which goes a long way in the Mexican’s chase for all-time greatness.

1. Oleksandr Usyk

If Canelo really wants to bring his career to new heights, he should look to unpick one of the smaller heavyweight competitors.

There are alternatives and, of course, a heavyweight like Tyson Fury would be well off any possibility due to size but it might not get much bigger than Usyk.

The Ukrainian is one of the best boxers on the planet but due to him being last on the list, this fight would happen quite a way down the line.

By that time there is a chance Usyk, or an alternative smaller heavyweight, slips up or shows signs of ageing it may not take much for Canelo to take that career defining risk.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/boxi...6b21f5b49e7b5b

[Spicoli]

Combing thru my thick skull I cannot remember a time I've seen a fighter willfully look passed his next opponent with some of the silly shit Canelo and Hearn are spouting. Just a franchise and champ with so much smoke blown up its pant leg they just walk on clouds? The Golovkin is 'light work', the Usyk talk etc. Or head games? Draw Bivol into more of a machismo game early. Bivol will have to come harder than he's shown recently regardless as that in-out pogo fencing won't quite get it done. I'd love to see Bivol look to strike very early, he has the mix of accurate power to keep Canelo on the reset in big gaps ..I think. No draws, no drunk judges, no Laurence Cole and no NC and we're good, let's have a top notch fight!

[palmerq]

I'm actually quite surprised people arent giving Alvarez a hard time here, especially considering his last run of opponents..bivol is nearly a super middleweight he does have a height advantage and moves well but he's not a big puncher, I'm thinking this is going to be a pretty simple and convincing win for Alvarez. It just seems odd to me that people would savage plant, saunders and Smith as opponents but rate bivol but wotever.. i like both, i rated bivol as the number one light heavyweight in one of baalphas old threads but i changed my mind on him a bit after he looked a bit lightweight. He's still obviously pretty good.

[Spicoli]

I'm actually quite surprised people arent giving Alvarez a hard time here, especially considering his last run of opponents..bivol is nearly a super middleweight he does have a height advantage and moves well but he's not a big puncher, I'm thinking this is going to be a pretty simple and convincing win for Alvarez. It just seems odd to me that people would savage plant, saunders and Smith as opponents but rate bivol but wotever.. i like both, i rated bivol as the number one light heavyweight in one of baalphas old threads but i changed my mind on him a bit after he looked a bit lightweight. He's still obviously pretty good.

Bivol had a quick run there that I don't think any of those guys can claim really. Plant for all the over slicked backfoot he came with was not on Bivols level. Talented for sure, but he was holding that for Canelo I hate to say. And until Bivol comes in off of a coked up fatty bender and being handed a trinket vs a guy named Shefat he's just not the same as Saunders . Holding a clear cut win over a now current 175 champ in Smith Jr has to mean something I suppose. It's a solid fight, all credit to Canelo if he dusts him off impressively which I do suspect via the body work accumulation late. But Bivol is imo his best complete test since 160lb days.

[palmerq]

Well yeah saunders had some crap performances and is a total git but someone like fury does the same stuff as he saunders and looks a bit crap v lesser opponents and then people are ranking him in the top ten heavyweights of all time :S sure saunders has had some crap fights but he's pretty good when he's on form and he was when it mattered, until a Mexican broke his face ...

Is beating joe Smit Jr really that impressive, bivol was also holding himself up on the ropes and the end of a round near the end, that could have been over with a few more seconds .