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Boxer Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez experienced a surprise defeat when Russian Dmitry Bivol successfully defended his World Boxing Association (WBA) light heavyweight title. The athlete won a unanimous decision win at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Undefeated Dmitry Bivol, who holds the WBA light heavyweight belt, handed Mexican boxer Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez the second loss of his career.
After 12 rounds, Bivol won the fight via unanimous decision from all three judges who scored 115-113.
Using height and reach to his advantage, Bivol continually beat Alvarez throughout the match to retain his title at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, USA.
The Russian emerged victorious after first walking to the ring to boos, while his Mexican challenger made a grand entrance with a mariachi band and fireworks.
But Bivol just wanted to fight and he did. “It doesn’t matter which one, first or second, I don’t care, I just wanted this fight (…) It doesn’t matter what sound it has, what sound I have, how it came in, I heard the crowd, I really enjoyed how the crowd was screaming,” said the Russian. .
Bivol: “I think from the (start) of the fight, I saw what I wanted to do”
After opening the fight with a trio of very close rounds, it was clear that Bivol could use his advantages to hit Alvarez and keep him away.
In dominant fashion, Bivol landed 36% of his power shots, according to CompuBox, and outscored ‘Canelo’, 152-84. Canelo’s 84 punches were the least connected in a 12-round fight.
“I knew that he has hard shots and he would hit my body or my arm (…) I think from the (start) of the fight, I saw what he wanted to do,” Bivol explained.
Russian light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol has stunned the boxing world with a surprise victory against star Canelo Álvarez — who hadn’t lost a fight since 2013.https://t.co/51p0CPG71y
— NPR (@NPR) May 8, 2022
Bivol apparently took control in the fifth round, when he pinned Alvarez to the ropes and landed multiple shots to his face.
It was poise and control that allowed the Russian to land direct punches through ‘Canelo’s arms and to his face to close out the contest and help him win seven of the final eight rounds on the three scorecards. judges.
‘Canelo’: I don’t feel ashamed
Álvarez, considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters, had just written history months ago. In November he became the first undisputed champion at super middleweight (168lbs-76.2kg).
“I don’t feel ashamed because I look for those challenges that many don’t do for fear of losing (…) Today I was looking for greatness,” the Hispanic athlete stressed at a press conference.
‘Canelo’ Alvarez, who returned to the heaviest weight of his career to challenge for the 175-pound (79.4kg) title, disagreed with the judges, saying he believes he lost four or five rounds at most.
“I definitely did not lose the fight (…) I think I got a bit tired towards the final rounds, but I felt good,” he stressed through an interpreter.
With a rematch clause in the contract, the Latin American boxer signaled after the fight that he wants a rematch with the Kyrgyz-born Russian champion.
Alvarez’s only other loss was to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2013.
With Reuters, AP and EFE
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