Photo: Al Bello / Getty Images
LAS VEGAS – Before walking to the ring, Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez was lifted off a platform near the tunnel at Arena T- Mobile, while the public shouted and was excited to see the Mexican superstar in all the high. By the time the fight against Russian Dmitry Bivol was over, the Mexican was literally dropped from the clouds as he was clearly beaten.
The three judges scored the fight 115-113 in favor of Bivol (20-0), who retained his light heavyweight world championship version AMB. The fight was more uneven than the judges’ ballots indicated (Real America News scored 9 rounds for the Russian).
Canelo, who saw a broken chain of 16 fights without defeat since his stumble against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2013 , said he wants revenge by pointing out: “This does not stay like this.” Judging by what was seen on Saturday night, that may be a bad idea from Guadalajara.
“In boxing you win and you lose . I had to lose, I’m not going to make excuses,” said Álvarez (57-2-2) in the ring. “But that’s how boxing is.”
After four very good rounds that were even, Bivol exploded in the fifth, when he started to look like he could win and even knock out Álvarez by penetrating his defense with straight punches with both hands.
The Mexican, at one point overwhelmed against the ropes, lowered his hands and made a gesture to the Russian, as if asking for respect for being the oldest star and heavy favorite in the fight.
Canelo, who visited the canvas in round 8 due to a struggle, went all out in the ninth when he hit realized the urgency to react, and although it started well, even lifting fans from their seats, Álvarez lost gas as the assault progressed
.
From then on it was never dangerous again for a bigger fighter, very fast and in tremendous physical condition.
Saúl Álvarez, who had already been a light heavyweight champion after knocking out in 2013 to also Russian Sergey Kovalev, expressed during previous months interest in trying to unify the division as he did between 2019 and 2021 in the super middleweights, something that had never been achieved in the era of the four world bodies. That intention could well have expired in the ring at the T-Mobile Arena.
News in development.