Canelo Alvarez Blames Conditioning for Loss to Dmitry Bivol
When last fighting during his prized Mexican Independence Weekend, undisputed super middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (57-2-2, 39 KO’s) suffered his second professional loss. This defeat came at the hands of Super WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol. Going in, many thought that the 168-pounder was going to have his hands full with Bivol.
The Russian has long since proven himself to be patient, technically proficient, efficient with the jab and fluid on his feet. One and all of these traits gave Canelo fits en route to his unanimous decision loss. Directly following the loss, and in the weeks after, the redhead never gave a concrete reason for why he felt he lost. Yet, in a recent interview with FightHub, now Alvarez has somewhat highlighted the culprit in his detrimental loss.
“I got tired, that’s it. I couldn’t train like usual, but it is what it is. I lost, but I am going to get my chance again. I’m not blaming the vegan diet. There is other things, I don’t want to say.”
HISTORY OF BREATHLESSNESS
On the one hand, no one knows what Canelo felt like in the ring but the redhead himself. On the other hand however, from the outside looking in, fatigue did not appear to be the trouble at all. If valid, it would not be the first time that the undisputed champion has shown a deficit in his stamina. In both fights with Gennady Golovkin and his bout with Daniel Jacobs, for example, Alvarez showed signs of a wanting gas tank.
More than his stamina though, it appeared that Bivol’s consistent jab and ability to maintain the necessary separation was the critical problem. This is nothing new though. Floyd Mayweather Jr, Austin Trout and Erislandy Lara have all proven that a stiff jab and educated feet can cause Alvarez serious problems. In fact, for as much as he has improved overall, Canelo is not any more notably better at neutralizing top level movers now as he was against Mayweather then.
In the end though, it may truly boil down to a case of insufficient training. If true however, that in and of itself would be disappointing and even spur more questions. Before Canelo has to delve too deeply into thoughts about Bivol though, he first will volunteer to face Gennady Golovkin in a third fight that no one is calling for. And in reality, Canelo doesn’t see a point in it either! Nevertheless, let’s first see if Alvarez returns to form or if there are lingering effects from the Bivol bout, or persistent poor training camps.
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By: Bakari Simpson
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