By Huck Allen: Eddie Hearn announced on Wednesday that Canelo Alvarez will be challenging WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol on May 7that the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Now that the location for the Canelo-Bivol fight has been revealed, it puts to rest the idea of the match being staged in Dubai in the Middle East.
The T-Mobile Arena is a venue that unquestionably favors Canelo, as he means a lot to Las Vegas with the fans that he brings to the city to spend their money each time he fights there.
Obviously, you’d hate the idea of Canelo being given preferential scoring by the Nevada judges, but that’s an idea that many fans believe because of the high number of controversial decisions the Mexican star has had when fighting in Las Vegas.
Bivol (19-0, 11 KOs) doesn’t care where the fight is because he just wants the opportunity to face the superstar Canelo, who he feels he can beat. With the right game plan, Bivol might do the job on Canelo on May 7th.
Even with the wrong game plan, Bivol has the size, power, and work rate to beat Canelo. Bivol’s punch output will be key.
Canelo never had a high work rate even during his best years, but his output has dropped in the last four years since moving up to 168.
Hearn back with Canelo
“Canelo beat every champion at 168 to become undisputed within a year during the pandemic,” said Eddie Hearn to MMAHOUR. “We did the Callum Smith fight, we did the Avni Yildirim fight, and we broke the attendance record with the Billy Joe Saunders fight.
“Unfortunately, he [Canelo] needed to fight Caleb Plant for the last piece of the undisputed. Caleb Plant is with PBC, and they just wouldn’t let him go. We made an offer to them, and rightfully so.
“They wanted to use Caleb Plant as an opportunity to bring Canelo to the PBC and to Showtime,” said Hearn. “I had to bite the lip on that one and know that it was in the best interest of Saul and it was his opportunity to become undisputed.
“He wanted to make history,” Hearn said of Canelo. “It was difficult not being a part of that. I was there almost like a fan, and this time around, I’m even more determined to work with him again.
“We got a brilliant personal relationship, but it’s business. He’s going to take the opportunities that excite him and Eddy Reynoso, and help him create this incredible legacy that he’s building and obviously for a lot of money as well.
“For me and the Matchroom business, anytime you can bring the pound-for-pound #1 to your stable, the biggest star in the sport, it’s a blessing,” Hearn said.
Canelo is back with Hearn after his one-fight with PBC against IBF super middleweight champion Caleb Plant last November.
Why Canelo’s fights on DAZN PPV
“I said pay-per-view was dead at a certain price point, which was 19.99,” said Hearn. “I think things change. People can pull up clips from four years ago.
“Obviously, the market changes. The famous saying, ‘Yesterday’s price is not today’s price.’ That really sits with Canelo Alvarez, whose star has risen and whose value has spiraled out of control to the point where you’re competing with all these other platforms who are looking to stage Canelo Alvarez using the pay-per-view model.
“Really, you have no choice but to use that model to bring a star like Canelo Alvarez to the platform. For DAZN, the subscription model doesn’t change, but they realize that for one-off special events or huge attractions, they will have to have pay-per-view functionality to compete with the likes of FOX pay-per-view, ESPN pay-per-view, Showtime pay-per-view.
“They’re all doing it and you’re seeing so many pay-per-views right now across FOX, across Showtime. That’s so far away from the strategy of DAZN, but every now and then for Anthony Joshua and Canelo Alvarez, that is the model that is going to enable you to bring those mega-stars to your platform,” Hearn said.
Canelo-Golovkin trilogy in September
“It is,” said Hearn when asked if Canelo beats Bivol and Gennady Golovkin defeats Ryota Murata, the two will meet on September 17th in a trilogy match. “I’m not good at beating around the bush and hiding stuff.
“That is the deal and the plan that is in place, but everybody is hellbent and focused on the tasks ahead and they should be as well because of the danger in those fights.
“Dmitry Bivol, they talk about him being #2 in the world at light heavyweight behind Beterbiev. He’s an unbeaten fighter, technically outstanding, and he’s been looking for this opportunity for a long time.
“Gennadiy Golovkin has to go to Japan and fight Murata on DAZN as well. So two difficult fights, but that is the plan. The undisputed world championship, the trilogy match-up with Gennadiy Golovkin in September, but all eyes on May 7th to make sure they come through,” said Hearn.
