Last night, or if you’re in Europe or the UK like me. In the early hours of the morning, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez failed in his bid to win the WBA light heavyweight title from Russian Dmitry Bivol at the T-Mobile arena in Nevada.
He lost via a unanimous points decision 115-113 on all three judges’ scorecards, in only his second defeat of his illustrious 61 fight career.
Although it wasn’t a gruelling, career threatening beating for Canelo, it was a hard-fought, tough loss, where his handicap in size made all the difference.
Even though Canelo moved up to light heavyweight in November 2019 to beat Sergey Kovalev via a dramatic 11th round stoppage, in my eyes, he was losing that fight up until he dug out that victory.
After his last victory against Caleb Plant, where he unified the middleweight division, becoming only the sixth male boxer in history to do so.
His team promptly announced Canelo would be moving up to cruiserweight to fight the WBC champion Ilunga Makabu. However, that fight did not materialise as Makubu was forced to make a mandatory defence, which he won via a split decision victory.
I was sceptical about that move and I wrote an article about it here questioning Canelo’s methods and direction. When the Makabu fight was off the table, Canelo’s team then announced he will be moving to light heavyweight to challenge Bivol, who was unbeaten in 19 fights and largely untested.
Although his record did not have an abundance of household names, and the light heavyweight division is one of the least glamorous around, Bivol was always going to be a tough test.
Bivol is a younger, stronger, less battle weary and more complete boxer then a Kovolev, who gave Canelo trouble in their 2019 bout and it really showed.
I am sure Canelo’s team were expecting or hoping it would be like in 57 of his 60 fights, where he would just find a way. But this fight was in the 3.2% of his career.
As I stated previously, size really mattered. To Canelo’s credit, he did not stop trying to come forward and fight fire with fire, but had issues getting through Bivol’s high guard.
It seemed Canelo had to put in a big effort to push Bivol back and penetrate his guard with clubbing blows, but that barely put a dent into Bivol.
Then when he needed to follow that up with a few more big efforts like that, Bivol would come back with his pinpoint jab, slick combo’s and impose his will.
The bigger, heavier shots of Bivol clearly troubled Canelo and caught him a few times. Bivol was able to push Canelo back throughout the fight.
Although Canelo would try to fight it, Bivol was just too big and too strong to sustain that forward momentum. I felt after about round three, Canelo knew it would be a tough fight.
I believe the realisation came after another on of his big efforts, where he put in a heavy barrage of punches, but Bivol just shrugged it off and planted a jab back in his face like nothing happened.
In most of his previously fights, his opponent would retreat or cover up after a Canelo barrage, but it had no effect on Bivol and he continued as normal.
Bivol then took control of the fight through the middle rounds. This is where he really imposed his will, used his jab, high guard, extra size and pinpoint, straight punches to his advantage.
As I said, it was credit to Canelo who must have been getting discouraged inside, but he never showed it and continued trying to come forward, but with little success,
By the 12th round, it had been the same pattern for a while. Canelo was all heart and effort, but no real success.
Bivol was smart, but overall boxed superbly behind his high guard, clubbing jab and slick, heavy combinations.
As the final bell went, I had it 9 rounds to 3 for Bivol, with one round debatable in Canelo’s favour. Which was much wider than the three judges’ scorecards, who gave 7 rounds to 5 for Bivol.
Nevertheless, the right man won in the end, with Bivol retaining his WBA light heavyweight title in impressive fashion and with barely a mark on him when it was all said and done.
Naturally, this will hurt Canelo and his team in their quest for legacy. Although Canelo had previously won a title at light heavyweight and the original plan was a cruiserweight title, this is a huge setback in his legacy.
With that being said, Bivol is no pushover and his size and strength is not to be taken lightly.
Although Canelo’s been operating at middle, super middle and more recently, light heavyweight for some time. You have to remember he started at light welterweight and fought at welterweight for much of his career.
Before moving to light middleweight, then settling more at middleweight, before moving to super middleweight.
So even though he’s been moving through the weights as he got older, he is by no means a natural at these heavier weights ,which is tough, even for him.
So when he comes up against a younger, stronger, naturally bigger guy like Bivol, no matter if he is universally known as the p4p no1, these are monumentally tough fights, despite him being the favourite to win.
That said, Canelo has already evoked his rematch clause and will be looking for a second shot. I am pretty surprised at that as I am not sure what he can do differently. But if anyone can make the necessary adjustments and pull it off, it could be Canelo.
However, although he conquered the super middleweight division and unified the titles, that did not indicate there were no viable challenges for him in and around thtat weight.
For example; you have the undefeated David Benavidez who had been clamouring for an opportunity. Undefeated WBO middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade has never missed an opportunity to bad mouth Canelo into a fight. Also, the Charlo brothers have both put their names in the hat.
There even were reports that Canelo turned down a six figure deal to fight Jermall. There is also a prospect at a third Golovkin fight.
To me, it looks as though Canelo has more than enough options at the weight he already is a champion. And there are also other legitimate options I have not mentioned.
But it seems this chasing legacy thing has taken precedence for Canelo, although things can change and often does.
However, at present, it looks like a rematch for the WBA light heavyweight title is next for Canelo.
But many will question and debate whether Canelo is a victim of his own success, or is strategically picking his way to legacy.
