Via Knitting Ambrosio: Canelo Alvarez has confirmed that when he faces Dmitry Bivol in their rematch in September, the score will be 175 because he doesn’t want to hear any excuses after beating him.
While Canelo (58-2-2, 39 KOs) admitted that it would have been better for him to go into the 168 rematch with Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs), he knows that the boxing public will not recognize him for the victory and there will be a backlash.
Canelo noted that he was at a disadvantage against Bivol outside of his natural weight class last May, but fans said nothing about it. But if he drags Bivol down to 168, he’ll never hear the end, nor will he keep critics under pressure.
If Canelo successfully beat Bivol at 175, he said he wouldn’t hold that weight class, as he just wanted to mess him up and get back to his natural weight class at 168.
If Canelo continues in the light heavyweight division, he will have few options for exciting bouts, aside from a trio with Bivol and an undisputed clash with the 175th IBF, WBC & WBO champions lb Artur Betterbiev.
Canelo should think seriously about holding 175 long enough for him to take on Beterbiev if he succeeds in beating Bivol as a fight between the two would be huge and it would be the undisputed championship.
“Same weight, so without any excuses. At 175 lbs,” Canelo Alvarez said to media when asked if he will rematch Dmitry Bivol at 168 in September.
“Yes, but people are going to start talking to the king,” Canelo said of whether a rematch at 168 against Bivol would be in his favor.
“People will start to say, ‘Oh, he took him down [in weight]. That’s why he lost.’ But they didn’t say anything when I gained weight, but it’s the same thing.
“No, I just want to f**k him,” Canelo said when asked if he would continue at 175 if he beat Bivol.
“We already knew that. We have great respect for Zurdo Ramirez. We invited him to Canelo Promotions when he started his career and it helped him a lot to get signed to Top Rank. In the end, he talks a lot and does very little. It’s true,” Canelo said of Gilberto Ramirez.
“We already know the reality of that. He’s too slow for a fighter like Bivol,” Canelo said of Zurdo Ramirez. “Also, he has no heart. It’s Zurdo.”
