Will Canelo face Dmitry Bivol next?
According to unofficial industry rumblings, unified super middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (56-1-2, 38 KO’s) has identified his next opponent. If the scuttlebutt proves to be accurate, the redhead will next face WBA Super light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol (18-0, 11 KO’s). The Mexican superstar found himself in need of a dance partner when negotiations with IBF super middleweight champion Caleb Plant (21-0, 12 KO’s) dissolved into sludge. At this point, it is still unknown what lead to the unproductive conclusion.
3kingsboxing previously reported that if talks with Team Plant were unsuccessful that Bivol would be a frontrunner option. It was also stated that of his seemingly abundant variables, Bivol was probably the most tailor-made selection. Even worse, it appears that this will be a throwback fight for Canelo in that he’ll require a catchweight. In his past, Alvarez fought around, but not at, 154-pounds so much that fans and the media dubbed his endless catchweight fights “Canelo-weight.” Given this watered-down element, it’s not likely that Canelo would be fighting for Bivol’s WBA Super title.
For the time being however, there is no formal announcement. Yet Eddie Hearn, who is functioning as Canelo’s unofficial promoter, told IFL TV that he is hopeful that Bivol gets the nod.
“We have a couple of offers from a couple of broadcasters to look at a couple options, particularly the Dmitry Bivol fight. Bivol’s been training now for three weeks waiting for news on that fight, but he will have a cutoff. Basically, it’s six weeks on Saturday, so we have to announce. And there is a chance that he may not fight in September, Canelo. But it’s my preference to see him fight Dmitry Bivol on September 18.”
THE BIGGEST AND BADDEST?
If they fight, naturally some will question why Alvarez is requiring the catchweight. This is because the redhead already traveled to light heavyweight to dethrone Sergey Kovalev. They fought at the legit weight, so why not do it again? This change in tactic gives more credence to the theory that Canelo only fought Kovalev because he was a broken fighter and the weakest champion. In against a younger, fresher combatant, has the redhead lost his thrill for adventure?
Only time will tell. There is the remote and remarkably thin chance that Canelo faces Caleb Plant. The Mexican has made it very clear that he wants to become the undisputed champion at 168. Being that he is only one fight away from achieving that grand objective, going the extra mile to make it happen can’t be ruled out. Yet, if Canelo is fated to dance with Bivol next, let’s just hope he does it at light heavyweight. No one wants to see a compromised Bivol fight for nothing at stake. Regardless of how these entanglements resolve themselves, 3kingsboxing will be there to report the story.
By: Bakari Simpson
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