By Matt Lieberman: Promoter Eddie Hearn says that fans feel that Canelo Alvarez has lost his mind and making a mistake in wanting to fight a rematch against Dmitry Bivol next.
People view the rematch as just like the first fight, with WBA light heavyweight champion Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) dominating every round, making him look bad.
Bivol will likely KO Canelo this time because he saw his vulnerability the last time they fought.
The unbeaten Bivol could have easily stopped Canelo in the fifth round of their fight last May when he unleashed a seven-punch flurry that had the Mexican star on the verge of a knockout.
Surprisingly, Bivol showed mercy to Canelo, backing off and letting him survive. After that, Bivol coasted, nailing Canelo with punches whenever he wanted and blocking his return fire.
Fans want Canelo (59-2-2, 39 KOs) to finally give David Benavidez his shot because he did what was asked of him by defeating Caleb Plant to earn the match.
It’s not fair to Benavidez that he did what Canelo requested him to do for him to earn his shot, yet he’s still not being given the fight.
If there were any doubts that Alvarez was afraid of Benavidez, it’s his continued avoidance of him and his decision to take a rematch against Bivol that he must know that he can’t win.
Canelo has tougher assighment against Bivol
“I asked him that and he said he felt cautious early on throwing that left hand early on without question, but he got it going a little later. You’ve worked a lot of Canelo fight. How did he look compared to some of his earlier matches?” said Chris Mannix to DAZN Boxing.
“I thought he looked good. I look back at the Callum Smith performance [in 2020], and I thought it was a similar performance to the Callum Smith victory,” Eddie Hearn said. “He dominated most of the rounds in the fight, but he couldn’t get him out of there.
“He was probably a little bit frustrated towards the end of the fight. Coming back from the injuries and coming back from a mediocre year for Canelo Alvarez, but particularly the surgery.
“He’ll be pleased to get the twelve rounds in the bank and a much tougher assignment against Dmitry Bivol if we can get it over the line,” said Hearn.
“You say, ‘Can you get that over the line.’ What’s your first move Monday morning?” said Mannix.
“We’re speaking nonstop. I understand everybody’s position. Dmitry Bivol would like to challenge for the 168-pound championship, but at the same time, Canelo Alvarez has only interest in defeating Dmitry Bivol on the same terms because he believes he’ll only get credit on those terms,” said Hearn.
“I agree with him as well, but I understand Dmitry’s point of view. The fact is, with the [Artur] Beterbiev fight not possible, that [Canelo] is the biggest fight by a mile for Dmitry Bivol. I hope he accepts the challenge.
Alvarez desperate for revenge
“Canelo Alvarez gave him the opportunity. This time, it’s almost like Dmitry Bivol giving Canelo the opportunity. He’s desperate for revenge; he’s the ultimate competitor,” Hearn said about Canelo. “Most people think Canelo is crazy.
“It was a solid performance tonight, but people will make him a big outsider against Dmitry Bivol at 175 pounds,” said Hearn.
“Watching Canelo perform tonight, he’s still at a very high level, but I’m not seeing a guy that I say, ‘That guy absolutely would beat Dmitry Bivol,'” said Mannix. “Would you recommend that he goes for that fight?”
“Look, I don’t recommend anything. I get told what to do by Canelo and [manager/trainer] Eddy Reynoso,” said Hearn. “I don’t like in boxing how people criticize a decision like that because it’s ‘too tough a fight.’ Isn’t that what we want? Tonight was a mandatory defense [for Canelo against Ryder].”
The loss is eating Canelo up
“He won most rounds. He wants to step up. What other fight in the world are you going to see Canelo Alvarez in an underdog in and a big underdog at 175 pounds? So we need to give this guy props,” said Hearn. “You saw the stadium tonight. You saw the scene.
“He doesn’t need to fight Dmitry Bivol. He never needed to fight him in the first place, but he lost, and it’s eating him up every day, and we need to make it happen.
“You worked with John Ryder for a long time. What do you think is in his future?” said Mannix.
“What he realized is he’s a world class fighter. He’s just not as good as Canelo Alvarez,” said Hearn. “He will believe in himself. He’ll wake up tomorrow enjoying that. Enjoying mixing with an all time great.
“He busted his nose in the second round. I didn’t think he’d get through the fifth and sixth round. He did. He came back in the fight and won rounds later on. It was a fantastic effort, full of bravery.
“Sometimes fighters get criticized for looking for a way out. There was no way of looking for any way out tonight. John Ryder proved himself as a world class fighter with plenty of guts as well,” said Hearn.
Hearn confident Canelo vs. Bivol happens
“Good look making the Dmitry Bivol fight,” said Mannix.
“We’ll get it,” said Hearn.
“It was competitive in the backstages. I felt Saul tired a little bit. He won the fight convincingly, but John is super tough. He probably didn’t believe in himself in the early part of the fight, and when he did, he boxed really well, but a dominating performance from the undisputed champion.”
“How surprised were you in the fifth round when John Ryder got up from that shot he took?” said Mannix.
“I know how tough he is, and [trainer] has his fighters in unbelievable condition,” said Hearn. “You saw with Joe Cordina last week. These fighters are well conditioned and that’s what’s going to get them through those moments.
“I thought John needed to get up close as much as possible in the fight, and when he did, he was very good and clever on the inside against Canelo Alvarez. I thought Canelo looked very spiteful.
“I don’t know about his hands. I kept seeing him looking down at his hands, and we have to see how they are, but a dominating performance,” said Hearn.
