By Dan Ambrose: Canelo Alvarez is working on his bulldog-like neck with weights to strengthen it for the powerful jabs and right hands that WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol will be hitting him with on May 7th in their headliner on DAZN PPV.
Canelo (57-1-2, 39 KOs) is moving up in weight from 168 to challenge Bivol (19-0, 11 KOs) for what he hopes will be the first step to becoming the undisputed 175-lb champion in a short period.
In terms of weight, it’s not that big of a jump for Canelo, which has arguably been a light heavyweight for many years.
It’s believed that Canelo has fought at a rehydrated 170+ lbs since his days at middleweight, so it’s not that big of a deal that he’s going up to 175 to challenge the unbeaten Bivol for his WBA strap next month.
The real difference in this fight is that Canelo will be fighting someone at the same weight as him for a change and a far more talented guy than the fighters he’s been snatching belts from in the last three years. Canelo has focused on a weak bunch of champions at 168 since 2018, beating these flawed beltholders:
- Rocky Fielding
- Billy Joe Saunders
- Caleb Plant
- Callum Smuth
Bivol is a much different animal than those fighters, as he has talent in abundance and more than enough skills to defeat Canelo by decision or knockout.
“It is said that boxing is the sport of the poor, of the humble, and it’s true,” said trainer/manager Eddy Reynoso to DAZN on Canelo Untapped.
“Most of our champions come from middle and low classes. It’s people that sought opportunities in boxing, and it worked out for them,” Reynoso continued.
“Everyone notices them when they have belts, cars, and houses when they have thousands of things they lacked when they started. But it takes years of work and sacrifice.
“For all Mexicans to talk about boxing is to feel pride because we’ve had great athletes. We’ve had about 150 champions produced by Mexican boxing.
“Julio Cesar Chavez, Juan Manuel Marquez, and Marco Antonio Barrera are sportsmen who devoted their lives to boxing and got their arms raised around the world.
“They’ve left a significant mark for our boxing, our sport, and, more importantly, Mexico. I believe what makes these sportsmen so loved in our country.
“I think little by little Mexican fans, and boxing fans have realized that Canelo is one of the greatest sportsmen today.
“The Mexican boxer’s culture, one can say, are boxers that hit the body well. They have great combinations and hooks. As a Mexican, as Saul, he’s from the purest Mexican school of hooks.
“I think Saul is one of the most complete boxers in the world because he knows how to work his legs and defense. He knows how to feint and throw a good jab.
“He has great combinations. More than anything, he’s a smart boxer in the ring,” said Reynoso.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WYwZ6OIlWA