The pound-for-pound king returns this Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, as undisputed super middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (57-1-2, 39 KOs) returns to light heavyweight to take on undefeated WBA Champion Dmitry Bivol (19-0, 11 KOs) for his light heavyweight title.
Canelo and Bivol Collide in Star-Studded Battle of Champions
Dmitry Bivol is the longest reigning champion in the 175 lbs. division, having won the WBA strap in 2017. Since then, Bivol has been promoted to WBA super champion in October 2019.
Bivol had a successful year in 2021, beating Craig Richards in May by unanimous decision and followed it up with a unanimous decision win against Umar Salamov in December.
Bivol is often regarded as the most technically gifted boxer in the 175 lbs. division, as many fans prior to the Canelo fight being signed, were awaiting the potential showdown between Bivol and fellow undefeated Russian champion, WBC and IBF unified champion Artur Beterbiev.
With a strong jab second only behind possibly Gennady Golovkin’s, elite ring generalship, respectable power, and in the prime of his career, Bivol is no easy task for any fighter come fight night.
However, Bivol has never came across an opponent like Canelo Alvarez. The Mexican champion is currently riding an eight fight win streak that started in his rematch against Golovkin back in 2018, and has not tasted defeat since 2013 against Floyd Mayweather.
During that time, Canelo has amassed an all time record, defeating big names such as Miguel Cotto, Gennady Golovkin, Amir Khan, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, Daniel Jacobs, Sergey Kovalev, Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders, and Caleb Plant.
All in a span of four divisions, amassing multiple titles in all four divisions, and even becoming the first to become undisputed super middleweight champion, as well as the first ever Mexican born undisputed champion, and is only one of six boxers to ever unify in the current four belt era.
Canelo’s lone appearance at light heavyweight against Sergey Kovalev resulted in an 11th round vicious knockout that won him the WBO title now held by Joe Smith Jr. Many felt Canelo was risking too much jumping to 175 lbs. after campaigning at 154, 160, and 168 lbs., as he was visibly the smaller man, but the power carried over to the weight and proved no comfort zone issue was in question for the champion.
Now, with his second appearance at 175 lbs., Canelo will look to hand the first loss to the fourth straight undefeated opponent Alvarez has faced, as he and Bivol look to put on a show this Saturday.
The PPV event will be aired exclusively on DAZN with coverage starting at 8PM ET/ 5PM PT.
Main Image:Embed from Getty Images
