Unbeaten Dmitry Bivol retained his WBA light-heavyweight world title with a unanimous points decision over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez on Saturday, handing the Mexican celebrity the second defeat of his profession.
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Russia’s Bivol, 31 improved to 20-0 with 11 knockouts whereas multiweight champion Alvarez, a heavy favourite, fell to 57-2 with two attracts. His solely different defeat was to Floyd Mayweather at light middleweight in 2013.
Alvarez made boxing historical past in November when he stopped Caleb Plant to develop into the primary man to unite all 4 tremendous middleweight world title belts.
He had fought at light-heavyweight earlier than, stopping Sergey Kovalev within the eleventh spherical to win the WBO 175-pound title in November 2019.
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But there could be no late heroics in opposition to Bivol, who pressured Alvarez relentlessly all through the bout and by no means appeared to be damage significantly by the Mexican, who struggled to get previous Bivol’s guard.
“He hurt my arm,” Bivol stated, displaying a bruised higher arm that absorbed a string of punches.
“I felt his power, you can see on my arm. He beat my arm up – but not my head.”
All three judges – Tim Cheatham, Dave Moretti and Steve Weisfeld – scored the bout 115-113 for Bivol.
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It was a large disappointment for the pro-Alvarez crowd at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, who had been pulling for a Mexican victory on the Cinco de Mayo vacation weekend.
Dmitry Bivol stated their partisan cheers at any time when Alvarez appeared to be gaining floor “gave me more energy.”
Bivol fought a disciplined combat, keying a gradual assault with a piston-like jab that opened the door for highly effective combos.
Dmitry Bivol v Canelo Alvarez rematch on the playing cards?
Alvarez was placed on the defensive, and the naturally lighter fighter couldn’t discover a manner to reply.
By the seventh spherical his face was bruised, his ft seemed gradual and his punches lacked their common energy.
“He’s a very good fighter,” Alvarez stated.
“He is available in, goes out. He managed his distance very well. That’s boxing.
“He’s a great champion,” Alvarez stated.
“I lost. He won.”
Although he had no criticism with the choice, Alvarez stated he wished a rematch.
“Rematch? No problem,” Bivol stated.
“Let’s talk about that.”
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
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