Via Dan Ambrose: Callum Smith says Canelo Alvarez will need to rally to beat Dmitry Bivol by a decision in their matchup next week on May 7.
The fight is considered by savvy boxing fans to be a 50-50 affair, and Canelo will most likely lose to Bivol.
The things that Bivol can do in the ring in terms of moves, combined punches and dashes are things that Canelo has always encountered in his career.
Callum knows how difficult it can be for Canelo, having lost a unanimous decision over 12 innings to him in December 2020.
Smith spent most of the competition with his back to the ropes, shielding like a fighting partner, not throwing punches and playing safe.
Former WBA super-middleweight champion Smith sees this showdown as a close match as Bivol 19-0, 11 KO) has a lot of talent.
Canelo, 31, is preparing to take on Bivol for his WBA light heavyweight crown in the main event on DAZN PPV at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
What makes the Canelo-Bivol fight difficult for Canelo (57-1-2, 39 KOs) is the size and mobility of the Bivol.
Canelo vs. Bivol will melee
“It was a good fight; Bivol is a very good fighter. He’s so much better and more efficient when you’re there with him,” Callum Smith told Professional boxing fan about next week’s match between Dmitry Bivol and Canelo Alvarez on May 7.
“He’s not flashy and very hard to beat,” Smith continued of the undefeated WBA lightweight champion Bivol. “I think it will be a tight competition.
“I don’t think Bivol hit hard enough to make Canelo think twice [about pressuring]. I think Canelo can come from behindbut I think Canelo wins on points,” Smith said.
Historically, Canelo has struggled against fighters with mobility, and he has had a lot of trouble against fighters with excellent shots. Bivol has an excellent jab, and he throws combos to the head and body.
Canelo’s game is built around dodging headers, but he will get hit in the body due to his stocky physique. Most of Canelo’s size is in his upper body, so there’s plenty of area for Bivol to target.
Luckily for Canelo, he’s been lucky in matches he seems to have lost multiple times. Whether that fortune can continue against Bivol on May 7 remains to be seen.
Bivol is weak on the inside
“I think it will be a good fight. Bivol has a good ring IQ and good right-handedness, but I feel like his weakness lies on the inside,” David Benavidez told ESNEWS.
“You can hit him a lot with body shots and with combos. That’s what Canelo throws a lot. So if you stay there with him [on the inside]it would be a big mistake, but I feel like Canelo will win the fight,” Benavidez said as he predicted victory for Alvarez over Bivol.
