Pound for pound star Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has had a change of heart regarding a potential rematch with Dmitry Bivol, and now apparently wants to face the Russian at super middleweight and put his four world titles on the line.
The Mexican was initially insistent that a second meeting between the pair should take place at 175lbs – the same weight limit at which Bivol outpointed him last year.
However, when outlining his plans for both Bivol and Canelo, promoter Eddie Hearn told the DAZN Boxing Show that Alvarez now wanted to face his former conquerer at 168lbs.
“Canelo Alvarez wants to fight Dmitry Bivol for undisputed at 168.”
“For me, I’d like to see Callum Smith against Beterbiev, probably at Anfield, in the early summer after Ramadan. Dmitry Bivol perhaps against Joshua Buatsi in the Spring. Then Bivol fight Canelo at 168 for undisputed.”
Bivol put on one of the performances of the year when he comprehensively outboxed Canelo to retain his WBA world light heavyweight title at the T-Mobile Arena.
He followed that up with another classy display against Gilberto Ramirez in Dubai in November, and many in the sport had him as their 2022 fighter of the year.
Canelo bounced back from the defeat with a comfortable points win against old foe Gennadiy Golovkin in their trilogy bout last September, and has always been vocal in his desire for another crack at Bivol.
The boxing world will hope an undisputed fight at light heavyweight lays in waiting for Bivol should he prevail against Canelo once again.
A fight with countryman Artur Beterbiev has been widely hailed has one of the best to be made in boxing, with both men unanimously regarded as top ten pound for pound fighters.
Beterbiev retained his WB0, WBC and IBF world titles with a stoppage win over Anthony Yarde at the weekend and immediately called for an undisputed showdown with Bivol.