By Brian Webber: Canelo Alvarez has a rematch with WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol that he hopes to make next May to avenge his loss against the champ.
Alvarez’s surgically repaired left wrist is being rehabbed, and everything is going well thus far in his training.
He feels confident that he’ll be able to return to the ring for two fights in 2023, starting with a rematch with the unbeaten Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) in May, followed by potentially an equally important clash in September.
The rematch with Bivol is important for Canelo because he wants to show the boxing world that his lackluster performance last May was because of injuries to his left wrist and shoulder, which prevented him from training the way he needed.
Bivol has turned into a star overnight from the win over Canelo and a recent victory against Gilberto Ramirez. With Bivol’s newfound popularity, a rematch between him and Canelo could bring in a lot of pay-per-view buys on DAZN. It’ll be a much bigger fight than the first time around.
Canelo wants revenge
“That’s good. I think all the best guys should be fighting each other, and Canelo is the guy that wants to make history by fighting the best and fight some of the best fighters out there,” said former two-division world champion Brian ‘The Hawaiin Punch’ Viloria to ESNEWS, reacting to being told that Canelo Alvarez says he wants to fight the best and is open to any challenge.
“Hopefully, he does that, and it materializes. You know how it is in the sport. Everybody wants to fight each other, but it’s very hard to create those fights. I hope this one gets made,” said Viloria.
The only way the Canelo-Bivol rematch doesn’t take place is if Bivol gets the undisputed match against unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev.
“I see Benavidez wins this fight [against Caleb Plant],” said Viloria. “I want to see a Benavidez vs. Canelo fight. I think that would be a very intriguing match-up, and hopefully, Benavidez will get this fight and hopefully get a shot against Canelo. I believe he’s been wanting this fight for a while.
“I don’t know about that,” said Viloria responding to a comment from Ellie Sechback, who said he’s picking Canelo to defeat Dmitry Bivol in a rematch in May next year.
“It’s not about that [Canelo not being 100% for the Bivol fight last May. It’s about styles make fights. Bivol is very, very intelligent, and he’s the bigger guy naturally. For him to be a natural light heavyweight. Canelo is a natural middleweight.
Bivol will win rematch
“Canelo might do a little bit better, but I think we’re going to see the same thing,” said Viloria. “I think Bivol is going to win a decision. I take my hat off to Canelo. He’s doing things to cement himself in history.
“He’s a guy that doesn’t dodge people, doesn’t duck people. He wants to take the best challenge, and I think he’s going to go down in history as the guy that took all the risks and fought everybody.
“I think it’s going to be the same result as the Bivol fight,” said Viloria about Canelo wanting to fight Oleksandr Usyk. “I think Canelo needs to stay around middleweights,” said Viloria.
“We will seek revenge. I lost trying to make history in another division, complicated, for me, it is number one in the 175-pound division,” said Canelo Alvarez to Bet365.mx about wanting a rematch with Dmitry Bivol.
“I think I’ll be ready for May again. I am here to face the best and have the best fights in boxing, all those fights interest me; whatever leads me to make history, that’s why I’m here,” said Canelo.
