STAR PREVIEW Sun: Canelo Alvarez v Dmitry Bivol

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez will attempt to conquer yet another division this weekend as he takes on WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol in Las Vegas. The Mexican PPV star is never far away from controversy, but his recent record is impressive and he continues to make unprecedented steps by winning belts in multiple divisions simultaneously.

Growing up in a deprived area of Mexico, Canelo found boxing as a youngster and quickly realised the sport could unlock doors to a better life. He turned professional at just 15 and has since had sixty professional fights, claiming world titles in four divisions along the way.

The career of the Mexican superstar has not been straightforward, though. He was beaten by Floyd Mayweather in 2013 and his two fights with Gennady Golovkin were controversial, too.

The first clash, in 2017, ended in a draw despite many people thinking Golovkin won clearly. The rematch in 2018 went in favour of Canelo but again, many inside the sport believe his biggest rival won that also.

Outside of the ring, Canelo has also had run ins with drug testing agencies and was handed a six month ban for testing positive in 2018. This is a negative stain that will always be attached to his name but Team Canelo insist that he is innocent and remains solely focused on building a legacy that will see him go down as one of the greatest Mexican boxers to ever live.

Despite all the controversies, very few in fighters in history have gone through the divisions in the fashion Canelo has and his willingness to fight reigning champions is something to be celebrated. At 31, he is in his prime as an athlete and after racking up eight wins in a row, he is developing an aura of invincibility that opponents are struggling to deal with.

Dmitry Bivol is a quiet, unassuming character who came through the esteemed Russian amateur system. In the unpaid code, Bivol was a feared fighter who won gold medals at several major tournaments and amassed over 280 fights before turning professional in 2014.

Life as a professional has been seamless for the Bivol who picked up the WBA light heavyweight title in 12th fight and has since successfully defended the strap seven times. Very few fighters have given the WBA champion problems in his professional career and that is testament to his natural ability but this challenge on Saturday is another level both inside and outside the ropes.

When competing against Canelo, the build-up is as intense as the actual fight. The Mexican is the poster boy of boxing and the media scrutiny around his fights can be suffocating. Bivol does not enjoy the commercial side of boxing and although he can compete with Canelo in the ring, it remains to be seen if he is able to handle fight week without exerting too much energy.

Bivol will hold physical advantages in this fight but it is likely that Canelo will be the one marching forward and pressing the pace. Despite the Russian having eleven knockout victories in nineteen fights, he is not renowned as a puncher and Canelo has shown an exceptional chin in recent years.

Given the status of Canelo in the world of boxing, Bivol will need to win this one clearly to get a decision on the cards. The Russian is a pure boxer so he can pose problems for the Mexican especially if he is allowed to get in a rhythm but any close rounds are likely to go the way of the challenger this weekend.

Canelo starts as the (2/9) favourite with the defending champion priced at (4/1). These odds may seem ridiculous but they are reflective of Canelo’s status in the sport. Words like ‘unbeatable’ have been attached to the name of the four-weight world champion and during fight week, he has carried himself with the confidence of a man who believes he is unbeatable.

Dmitry Bivol is good enough to beat Canelo Alvarez but he would need to produce a perfect performance to do so. As an undefeated champion, he will do himself justice in Las Vegas but it is unlikely to be enough and Canelo Alvarez to win on points at (8/11) looks set to be the banker of the weekend.

JORDAN NEILD (@jjneildwriter)

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