By Sean Jones: Dmitry Bivol is the light heavyweight division’s version of Shakur Stevenson with his fantastic boxing skills, and he’s going to the world what he can do against the famous Canelo Alvarez next Saturday night on DAZN PPV.
Bivol’s ability to control distance is uncanny, a perfect copy of Shakur Stevenson, but with the power & combination punching. The unbeaten Russian Bivol makes the same moves that Stevenson does, and it’s going to be interesting to see whether Canelo can make adjustments.
As we saw last Saturday, Canelo’s trainer Eddy Reynoso had no answers for Oscar Valdez in his fight against Shakur in their headliner on ESPN. Reynoso looked lost. I hate to say it, but we could see the same thing next Saturday night when Canelo goes up against Bivol.
Canelo is walking into a tiger trap this Saturday night against the talented when he defends his WBA light heavyweight title against the belt-hungry star at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
As I said, Bivol is a slightly better version of Stevenson, and Canelo will be up against it unless he can get lucky with another controversial decision like we’ve seen him benefit from many times in the past.
Canelo can be outboxed
“I think Canelo can be outboxed, I really do,” said Tim Bradley to Fighthype. “There’s still a weakness there. This guy [Bivol] is a long stronger than Billy Joe Saunders, and he punches harder.
“He’s really good and calculated with distance,” said Bradley about Bivol.
“I got Canelo. Styles make fights, but Canelo is strong, he has the experience, and I think that’s going to hold him over the top,” said Gary Russell Jr. to Fighthype, picking Canelo Alvarez to defeat Dmitry Bivol next Saturday night on May 7th.
“He’s [Canelo] going to start walking his a** down like Jason [from the movie, ‘Friday the 13th’] or Freddie Krueger, and he’s going to be sending that mother f**** heat. So, I go with Canelo,” said Russell.
“Canelo vs. Bivol. I feel like Canelo is going to destroy him because Canelo destroys everybody,” said Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero. “I’m not taking anything away from Bivol.
“It’s a great fight for them and a great fight for boxing in general,” said light-welterweight Brandon Lee about the Canelo vs. Bivol fight. “I’m looking forward to watching it.
“I think it’s going to be one hell of a fight. I can’t choose Canelo, and I can’t choose Bivol, so I can’t wait. I don’t follow Canelo’s weight classes; he moves up and down frequently. Every time he fights, I watch him. It’s going to be one hell of a fight,” said Lee.
“We know exactly what style Bivol has,” said Jessie Vargas. “For those who have been watching his career and know a little about him.
“I think he falls into a perfect trap that will benefit Canelo Alvarez, but sometimes those Europeans, they can’t fight on the inside,” said Vargas.
Bivol won’t let Canelo on the inside
“They can’t fight on the inside; that’s exactly what it is,” said Nonito Donaire in reacting to Vargas’ comment about European boxers not being able to fight on the inside.
“That’s why to counter that is a stiff arm like the Klitschkos, all day. All you’ve got to do is move them around, get the hell back. If he’s able to do that. Canelo is very elusive and that’s why he’s one of the best pound-for-pound #1 is because he is able to adjust,” said Donaire.
“I agree,” said Vargas. “Another flaw I see in Bivol is he does something that’s always worked for him really well because of the guys he’s faced, and it would honestly work with anybody, but maybe not against Canelo.
“He does something like this all the time [Vargas jumping in an imitation of Bivol’s style] to generate power. He’s setting up the right hand, and when he sets it up, he pulls back this way. It’s like a bounce.
“If you catch that rhythm when he’s going to throw that right hand [you can counter him],” said Vargas about Bivol.
“Guess what Canelo is going to do?” said Donaire. “Wham, that’s it,” said Nonito in throwing a left hook to the body while dodging Bivol’s right hand to the head.
“It’s like the perfect style for Canelo in the bigger weights because he’s [Bivol] basically giving himself up, exposing himself to you. If you’re able to counter it properly, it can work to Canelo’s benefit.
“Bivol is going to have to do something extremely different in order to come out on top. Also, keep in mind that I’m not doubting him.
“I know Canelo, and I think he’s an extravagant fighter, but you have to understand that Bivol needs to do something different.
“His benefit 100% is his power. Also, his height and reach. If he can use that to his advantage, he can win, but mainly it’s his power.
“He plays it safe because he’s so used to the amateur style because you have to be safe on points. It goes again with that same rhythm. Everything he lands, he lands off that rhythm.
“If you time that right, it’s the same thing with his hook. He pulls out with the hook. When he pulls out with the hook, you can always come back with the right.
“It’s unique, but if you pay attention to all those little attributes, you’ll come to the conclusion that it’s just a rhythm.
“If he falls into that rhythm like Manny Pacquiao fell into that rhythm with Juan Manuel Marquez, we saw destiny before, we’ll see it again,” said Vargas.
Power & Size of Bivol will be a problem
“People don’t expect that Bivol is good. Technically wise, he’s good,” said Ryan Garcia.
“He’s going to have to be special because Bivol is going to have to get out of character in order to beat Canelo,” said Sergio Mora. “That jab is going to give him some issues.
“The power and size are going to give Canelo issues, but it’s not going to be enough to win.
“Caleb Plant gave Canelo some issues with the jab, some issues with the movement, but he didn’t have the experience or the size or the power to do anything else, and he ultimately got knocked out in the 11th.
“Kovalev had the size but didn’t have the commitment and got knocked out in the 11th. I think Bivol might be in the same boat. I think he’s going to have to show out and not just show up,” said Mora.
