Eddie Hearn wants Dmitry Bivol to challenge Canelo Alvarez at 168 for undisputed September in ‘ideal world’
Via Brian Webber: Eddie Hearn says “Ideal World” The schedule for Canelo Alvarez in 2023 is for him to take on WBO mandatory John Ryder in May, followed by a rematch with 168th-placed Dmitry Bivol in September for the undisputed.
Hearn will need some persuasion to get Canelo to agree to defend his undisputed super middleweight title against Bivol, as he may not want to do this.
However, if Canelo wants to beat Bivol in the second fight, then they even have to enter the playing field by letting him sacrifice weight. We saw last May that Bivol was too big, too fast and too dexterous for Canelo at the age of 175.
With all the advantages Bivol afforded him, the rematch would be the same if the rematch were to take place at 175. Matchroom promoter Boxing Hearn therefore pushed for a second Canelo-Bivol match. two at 168 to make things fairer.
Hearn doesn’t call WBO’s interim super-middleweight champion Ryder (32-5, 18 KOs) an adjustment fight for Canelo (58-2-2, 39 KOs), who is about to undergo left wrist surgery and needs a less risky fight for his May clash before moving on to a more dangerous encounter in a rematch with undefeated Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs).
Boxing fans reckon Ryder, 34, is really a prep match for Canelo, so they’ve been eagerly anticipating the Mexican superstar’s rematch with Bivol.
Canelo Alvarez, in an ideal world, will return in May. I think it’s disrespectful to call it a fight back. It’s been a fight back from his injury, and I believe he will fight hard. [WBO super middleweight] obligatory challenger, it’s John Ryder, interim world champion,” Eddie Hearn told iFL TV about 168 lb champion Canelo Alvarez’s next match in May.
“Then I will take a risk and say that Canelo Alvarez will fight Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed championship at 168th. There is still a lot of work to be done, but Dmitry Bivol is up for the challenge.
“Dmitry Bivol is about legacy. He has a chance if he can beat Canelo Alvarez, to take on Beterbiev in his next match for the undisputed 175th place. Yarde is up against Beterbiev. [on January 28th]. If he wins, he fights Bivol.
“A year ago, I said, ‘Yarde doesn’t play against Beterbiev. Why doesn’t he fight Buatsi.’ It was like a year ago. When I say, ‘he doesn’t fight’, I don’t mean that in his entire life, but he hasn’t fought with him for twelve months after that interview, and he could fight Buatsi for seven figures in the summer, in the fall, in the winter, and still fight Buatsi.
“Good luck to Yarde. I like him. I think he has a chance. Callum Smith must fight the winner of that war [Beterbiev vs. Yarde]. His next fight will be announced in March. He was tasked with fighting the winner Yarde vs. Beterbiev in the WBC.
“Bivol will fight around the same time in April or May. I want him to fight Buatsi. If he beats Joshua Buatsi, he will fight Canelo Alvarez. If Joshua Buatsi wins, he will most likely fight Canelo Alvarez. That’s how the light heavyweights plan.
In an ideal world, Canelo Alvarez would fight John Ryder and Dmitry Bivol if John Ryder didn’t get over his great sadness, Hearn said.
