By Sean Jones: Canelo Alvarez says that Dmitry Bivol did not defeat him because he was a better fighter than him last May. Canelo maintains that the reason for the loss is that he did not “give 100%” of effort in the fight.
(Photo credit: Matchroom Boxing)
Canelo (57-2-2, 39 KOs) still appears to be in denial about what happened to him in his loss to undefeated WBA light heavyweight champion Bivol (21-0, 10 KOs).
When you lose as badly as Canelo did, that’s more than just a case of not giving 100%. Bivol totally dominated Mexico’s start, getting the best of him in virtually every round but one.
What’s interesting is that Canelo promises to even the score with Bivol by beating him in the rematch, but he has repeatedly told the media that if the WBA 175-pound champion loses to Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez on November 5, he can forget about it. of a second fight. That doesn’t sound like Canelo wants revenge for losing him that much.
“The truth is that there is not much to say. I lost the fight because I got tired. It was definitely that, the weight, a lot of things that happened,” Canelo told GQ Sports of his loss to Dmitry Bivol. “He didn’t beat me by being better than me; I just didn’t give 100%.
“I will have the opportunity to show them that I am better than him. That’s how it is. He had to lose,” Canelo said of his vision to avenge his loss to Bivol.
“I think it’s hard to say because that’s never going to happen. But I’m sure in my prime, he would never beat me,” Canelo said of fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr in a main vs. main fight.
“The truth is that I thought everything was over. I didn’t plan on fighting him,” Canelo said when asked why he made Golovkin wait four years before finally fighting him again.
“I was doing other things. Moving up in weight and winning titles in other divisions, but people kept asking me about this fight. And one thing or another, the broadcaster wanted this fight too. So, we made a two-fight deal, and it happened.
“’Could Errol Spence beat Canelo Alvarez?’ I do not think. He is a good fighter, without a doubt, but from that to being able to beat me is another story. I don’t think he can ever beat me,” Canelo said.
