Saúl Canelo Álvarez experienced loss once more, a situation that hadn’t occurred in nearly nine years, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, this past Saturday in the United States.
Dmitry Bivol emerged victorious over the Mexican opponent with a unanimous decision in a bout for the World Boxing Association (WBA) light heavyweight championship. The judges submitted three scorecards that were all the same with a score of 115-113.
Canelo registró el segundo descalabro de su carrera: en 2013 fue vencido por Floyd Money Mayweather por vía de una decisión mayoritaria.
The Jalisco native now has a record of 39 knockouts with a record of 57-2-2. Alvarez continues to maintain the titles of the four primary boxing associations in the super middleweight category: World Boxing Council (WBC), WBA, International Boxing Federation (IBF), and World Boxing Organization (WBO), despite not being able to claim Bivol’s championship.
On his part, Bivol preserved his unbeaten streak and enhanced his record to 20-0-0 with 11 knockouts.
Bivol inflicted significant punishment on him by repeatedly pushing him against the ropes. Bivol easily landed powerful left jabs on the Mexican’s face. During the entire twelve rounds of the fight, Canelo faced difficulties due to the Russian’s larger stature and superior boxing skills.
The Russian Sergey Kovalev also won the OMB championship by knockout, in 2019. It was Canelo’s second fight at 175 pounds.
This was the progression of punches connected by Canelo and Bivol: the Russian always on top.
The three judges hand in identical scorecards of 115-113 in favor of Dmitry Bivol. The Russian retains the WBA light heavyweight title.
Vamos a las tarjetas.
In the final seconds, not much happens. For the closing, everyone in the arena stands up. But the Mexican cannot prevail. He then shakes him with a right uppercut. He immediately follows with his jab on Canelo’s face. With great urgency, Bivol starts the final round in round 12.
Unofficial scorecard for SN: 10-9 Bivol (116-112 Bivol).
The Mexican lifts him up like a wrestler, who puts a lock on the Russian’s head after a double jab and then, in another sequence, Bivol pacifies him with another violent left jab. Canelo tightens with his own one-two combinations in Round 11.
Unofficial scorecard of SN: 10-9 Bivol (106-103 Bivol).
The redhead who uses his reflexes to dodge punches corners the Russian. Bivol counters with a right hook, but Canelo is down by two goals.
Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Bivol (96-94 Bivol).
Dominant blows both above and below, Canelo overpowers Bivol, subsequently regains composure and delivers a punishing blow in a corner. The Russian establishes distance once more. Canelo demonstrates vitality by relentlessly pursuing Bivol with a succession of accurate punches.
Unofficial scorecard of SN: 10-9 Canelo (86-85 Bivol).
The redhead slips. He fends off several blows. The Mexican remains calm and continues to look for openings, but he starts to appear tired. And he presses him against the ropes again. Round 8: Bivol replicates the jab on Canelo’s face like a piston.
Unofficial scorecard of SN: 10-9 Bivol (77-75 Bivol).
Connecting a fierce left straight with more punches, the Russian closes in. The Mexican tries to close the distance, but fails. He continues to pummel Canelo against the ropes with the one-two, Bivol continues to demonstrate his poise in Round 7.
Unofficial SN card: 10-9 Bivol (67-66 Bivol) ferocious.
Bivol is determined to face Canelo in the ring, connecting several clean punches to the Mexican’s body with a combination of unleashes and redhead that the Russian has. He throws a one-two with violence.
Unofficial scorecard for SN: 10-9 Bivol (57-57).
Bivol connects his jab with great authority. But the Russian turns him around and pounds him with a flurry of punches that excites the crowd. Canelo comes out pressing, puts Bivol on the ropes, and lands a powerful right hand. Round 5.
Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Bivol (48-47 Canelo).
Mexican Canelo closes with a clean uppercut to the right. He puts him on the ropes now, not letting him leave. Bivol unleashes a flurry of punches from behind and is connecting with his jab more: Round 4.
Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Bivol (39-37 Canelo).
The Mexican lands another uppercut on his opponent who is against the ropes. Using two right hooks, the redhead corners Bivol and overwhelms him. Displaying his strength, the Russian delivers a forceful sequence of hits. However, Canelo skillfully avoids Bivol’s jab and retaliates with a punishing blow.
Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Canelo (30-27 Canelo).
Canelo lands a strong right hook. The Mexican fighter covers himself with fire, but Bivol throws a combination of punches. The aggressive Russian is the attacker in the battle, throwing his jab. Bivol makes Canelo retreat by connecting well to the body. Round 2.
Unofficial scorecard of SN: 10-9 Canelo (20-18 Canelo).
Bivol retaliates with a sequence of punches, but the titleholder counters with a left hook to the torso. Canelo strikes Bivol with a left hook to the torso, but the Mexican strikes the Russian both above and below with a one-two combination. Canelo advances and attempts to land a right hook. Bivol initiates his jab to establish the distance in Round 1.
Unofficial scorecard of SN: 10-9 Canelo (10-19 Canelo).
Comienza la pelea
The P4P King makes his way to the ring! 👑 @Canelo#CaneloBivol | @DAZNBoxing PPV pic.twitter.com/MDdqN9hexY
Pic.Twitter.Com/dw68ojqu1N | Canada & US on PPV DAZN | Mexico & Latin America excl. Worldwide, https://t.Co/FoiaUtUyQV Live | #CaneloBivol Watch 🏆as the defending champ makes his way to the ring.
The main fight of the night is coming up, Canelo Álvarez vs. Dmitry Bivol
Montana Love defeated Gabriel Valenzuela by unanimous decision (114-112, 3x)
The co-main event of the evening between Mexican Gabriel Valenzuela and American Montana Love had an explosive start.
At the end of the first round, Valenzuela knocked down Love with a right hook. In the second round, however, the Mexican fighter returned the favor, sending him to the canvas with a strong left shoulder blow.
Both took a rather cautious stance, but made several exchanges of blows. None of them made any attempts to go towards the front during the rest of the fight.
It was too late, but Valenzuela tightened in the twelfth round. His jab was the most effective in connecting with the American. Love Valenzuela intensely began to boo and the crowd inside T-Mobile Arena despaired due to the lack of action.
They are already applying the bandage to Dmitry Bivol, with those punches the Russian plans to derail Canelo’s big move.Output: Dmitry Bivol is currently receiving the bandage, with those punches, the Russian intends to thwart Canelo’s significant maneuver.
Taping the tools 🧰 @bivol_d #CaneloBivol pic.twitter.com/FeusBSGciz
The man of the night, Saúl Canelo Álvarez, has already arrived at the T-Mobile Arena.
He’s here! 👀 @Canelo #CaneloBivol pic.twitter.com/xpkko7KepA
Maidana, the former world champion from Argentina, Marcos Chino, is one of the luminaries who have gathered here at the T-Mobile Arena.
✨ Las estrellas se dan cita en el T-Mobile Arena: el Chino Maidana ya está en el estadio listo para vivir la velada de Canelo Álvarez vs. Dmitry Bivol. 🇲🇽🇦🇷📹 @1AlbertPerez, desde Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/qxc8HRM8YL
In the opening bout of the heavyweight division on the main card, Scott Alexander, representing the United States, was defeated in the initial round by Zhang Zhilei from China.
That KO feeling 😮💨Watch #CaneloBivol | Live on https://t.co/FoiaUtUyQV worldwide, excl. Latin America & Mexico | DAZN PPV in US & Canada pic.twitter.com/UsfcJ7NlUu
💻 Ya en nuestro sitio en el T-Mobile Arena de Las Vegas, donde Canelo Álvarez peleará esta noche ante Dmitry Bivol. 🥊🫴🏼Están invitados a acompañarnos. 🏟️✍️🏼La cobertura, de @1AlbertPerez. pic.twitter.com/SFl1ENfCJT
The sporting event, which is scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM in Spain and 9:00 PM in Argentina, 8:00 PM in the Eastern United States, and 7:00 PM in Mexico, will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, as reported by The Sporting News.