LAS VEGAS – Dmitry Bivol entered a select club on Saturday night. He became the second boxer to defeat Saul Canelo Alvarez, after Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Bivol (20-0, 11 KOs) got the better of the Mexican by unanimous decision of the judges (115-113, 115-113, 115-113), a surprisingly tight score, and retains his WBA title of medium-heavy.
” I’m the best. I keep my belt. Canelo is a great champion, I respect him,” Bivol explained.
Both boxers had a good first round. Canelo (57-2-2, 39 KOs) hit Bivol several times in the body. For his part, Bivol offered his best reply with less than 30 seconds to go in the round thanks to a good combination.
The Mexican continued his good work in the next assault with more powerful shots.
Both fighters traded several good combinations in the third round. Bivol first went there with a good combination that sent Canelo into the cables, then the Mexican replied with some good attacks afterwards. He also hit Bivol with a good uppercut to the chin at the end of the next round.
Bivol served quite a clash to Canelo in subsequent engagements. On the fifth assault, he sent the Mexican into the cables before hitting the target on numerous occasions. The problem is that Canelo had seen many others before Bivol. The Mexican served a dose of arrogance by asking Bivol for more shots after the multiple attacks received.
Bivol did it again in the seventh round – obviously at Canelo’s request – with the best attacks, despite the pressure Canelo was trying to exert. Bivol ended the round with a combination that sent Canelo into the cables. The story was not much different in the eighth assault. Bivol continued to show his superiority over Canelo in the fight.
Bivol completely dominated Canelo in 11and round with several powerful blows.
Canelo tried many attacks in the final round, but there was nothing to do against Bivol’s power and control.
“If you don’t believe in yourself, you can’t achieve great things,” Bivol said after his win.
The only defeat conceded by Canelo came on September 14, 2013, against Mayweather.
His unbeaten streak ends at 16.
For his part, Bivol is still perfect with 20 wins in 20 career fights. He had beaten Caleb Plant, Billy Joe Saunders and Avni Yildirim in 2021.
