Dmitry Bivol defeat Saul Canelo Alverez has the Russian defends his WBA crown in Las Vegas.
Saul Canelo Alverez suffer a shocking defeat to Russian boxer Dmitry Bivol in the light heavyweight fight in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
Bivol secured a unanimous decision victory over after defending his WBA crown and handing Canelo his second defeat in his career.
“I’m glad I proved myself today, I’m the best in my division and I keep this belt,” Bivol said after the win. “He’s a great champion, I respect him and all his team.
“If you don’t believe in yourself what do you do? You achieve nothing. I believe and my team believed in me.
“I felt his power. You can see on my arm, he beat my arm up but not my head. That’s better.”
Alvarez has previously won at light heavyweight, defeating Sergey Kovalev by knockout to win the WBO title in 2019, but Bivol proved too much for the Mexican fighter to overcome.
“You have to accept it, it’s boxing,” Alvarez said of the loss. “He’s a great champion. Sometimes in boxing you win and lose and I’m not giving excuses. I lost today and he won.”
Alvarez stressed he wanted the pair to fight again, adding: “Of course I do. This doesn’t end like this.”
Bivol, too, is keen to face off once more. “Let’s talk about a rematch,” he said. “I wanted this fight because I wanted to get the opportunity and I appreciate this opportunity.
“I’m ready for a rematch, I just want to be treated as the champion now.”
