By Sean Jones: Promoter Eddie Hearn says the Canelo Alvarez vs. Dmitry Bivol rematch will likely occur in Las Vegas in September at the same terms as last time at 175.
Canelo (59-2-2, 39 KOs) made his intentions clear last Saturday night after his victory over John Ryder that he wants the rematch with Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) at 175, which won’t make him happy.
Bivol has no incentive to fight Canelo at 175 again because he’s chasing greatness and wants to become undisputed at 168 and then return to light heavyweight and accomplish that feat by defeating IBF, WBC & WBO champion Artur Beterbiev in early 2024.
Last May, Bivol beat Canelo with ease, dominating him while in first gear, and it was one of the easiest matches the Russian fighter has had during his career.
Bivol can relieve Canelo of a heavy burden
From Canelo’s perspective, he should be glad that Bivol wants to fight him at 168 because he could permanently relieve him of the burden of having to fight his WBC mandatory David Benavidez or deal with WBA ‘regular’ 168-lb champion David Morrell Jr. and Demetrius Andrade.
Some boxing fans see Canelo living in fear of those three, avoiding them at all costs, lost in his world of golf and his hopeless vision of beating Bivol in their rematch in September.
Once Bivol defeats Canelo at 168 to take his four super middleweight titles from him, he’ll be belt-less and out of the hot seat as the guy that the sharks, Benavidez and Morrell, are circling, eager to rip him to shreds.
If Bivol dethrones Canelo at 168, Benavidez & Morrell would need to turn their attention to him, which would be a much different kettle of fish. Unlike Canelo, Bivol wouldn’t be an easy target prey for Benavidez, Morrell, and Andrade to hunt down.
“Canelo will obviously now want to fight Dmitry Bivol. He called that name out in the ring, and then we’ll see if we can get that made,” said Eddie Hearn to iFL TV. “Probably Vegas in September, but Dmitry has got to want the fight.”
Canelo only wants rematch at 175
“He wants the fight at 168, but Saul has made it clear. ‘175 only; same terms, same everything. It shouldn’t be for Dmitry, but I understand Dmitry as well. He’s saying, ‘I beat him at 175. Why should I rematch him?'” Hearn continued.
“Canelo kind of gave Dmitry his opportunity. It’s weird now that Dmitry kind of needs to give Canelo his opportunity to get back.
“Listen, Canelo is a big underdog in that fight, and it’s probably the only fight out there where he’s going to be a big underdog. That’s the kind of guy he is. He wants that fight. He wants to avenge that defeat,” said Hearn.
You hate to be the bearer of bad news to Hearn, but Canelo would be the underdog if he were to fight Benavidez or Morrell at 168. With the way Canelo looked last Saturday night against Ryder, you could probably add Andrade and Caleb Plant to that list.
Canelo would be the underdog against Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs), not that he would ever take that dangerous fight against the three-belt 175-lb champion.
