Matchroom Sports promoter Eddie Hearn reacted to Dmitry Bivol for his win in the light heavyweight fight against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.
Bivol won on a 12-round unanimous points decision over Canelo on Sunday Morning at the T-Mobile Arena, in Las Vegas, to retain the WBA light heavyweight belt.
All three judges scored the fight 115-113 for the Russian fighter Bivol, handing Alvarez his first loss since 2013.
“Dmitry Bivol with how tough this fight was and it was a punch perfect performance. I mean he had to box exactly, the way he boxed to win the fight.” Hearn told DAZN.
It was only Alvarez’s second professional defeat (57-2-2). The other came nine years ago to Floyd Mayweather Jr. as a light middleweight.
Alvarez was aggressive early on, but seemed tired in the middle of the round. Bivol held the common. He landed 152 shows against 84 in Alvarez. He hit 46 shots, but Alvarez hit only 10. The power shot was 106-74.
“I believed in myself, I believed I could win. I knew he had hard punches and would beat on my body, on my arm, and throw the left hooks,” Bivol said in his post-match press conference.
After the fight, Alvarez expressed his desire for a rematch, which Bivol appeared to be open to.
“A rematch? No problem. Let’s talk about a rematch. I took this fight because I just wanted the opportunity and I appreciate the opportunity.” Bivol said.
“I am ready for the rematch, I just want to make sure I win and am treated like a champion now.” the 31-year-old fighter said.
Alvarez’s next action is still unknown. The undisputed super middleweight champion was scheduled to play Gennady Golovkin in September to complete the trilogy, but like another middleweight or super middleweight candidate, he will rematch with Bivol.
