Four-weight world champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez has spoken of his plans for a rematch with Dmitry Bivol, who ended the Mexican’s nine-year unbeaten run back in May.
Since a successful light-heavyweight title defence against Canelo, Bivol’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, suggest his man could move down in weight and fight the undisputed super-middleweight champion for all of his belts in the rematch.
However, Alvarez outlined his intentions to remain as the challenger and fight Bivol in the 175lb division for the second time.
In an interview with Izquierdazo, the 32-year-old admitted that he is chasing the rematch in the same weight class as before, as he claims an injury to his hand, which he has since undergone surgery on, restricted his training camp and subsequent performance in their original fight.
“Same Weight, that’s it”
“I can win. It’s not a matter of belief, it’s because I know I can. That is my priority now.”
“That is something I want to do, and I know I can win, because I know how I went into that fight, I know what I can do and what I will do. I couldn’t make things properly, because I didn’t train as I had to. Because of my [injured] hand and all of that.”
With Canelo believing Bivol was at his best, whilst he was far from his, the 168lb king has complete confidence that he will come out on top next time.
“I lacked one or two rounds to win, I was highly competitive. Since I couldn’t have a proper training camp, I won the first rounds and then began to get tired. At the end, I’m sure I didn’t give my 100%, and he did. He can’t give anything more, and I can.”
Canelo recently acknowledged that jumping into a rematch with Dmitry Bivol after surgery would be an ill-advised decision. Instead, Alvarez wishes to have a ‘tune-up’ fight, possibly against the winner of Zach Parker vs John Ryder, on Cinco De Mayo, before challenging the Russian again.
Meanwhile, Bivol has made it clear that a fight with unified light-heavyweight champion, Artur Beterbiev, is his main goal. Beterbiev takes on Anthony Yarde in January, so it remains to be seen whether we’ll see the undisputed clash, or the Canelo rematch first.