Home Boxing News Tony Bellew believes Canelo Alvarez can turn the tables on Dmitriy Bivol...

Tony Bellew believes Canelo Alvarez can turn the tables on Dmitriy Bivol in rematch

Dmitriy Biovl (right) lands on Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez. Photo credit: Sky Sports

Retired former world champion turned DAZN pundit Tony Bellew has made the bold prediction that undisputed super middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez 58-2-2 (39) will defeat WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol 21-0 (11) if they meet in a rematch.

But Bellew concedes that there is not a boxer on the planet that can defeat the Mexican superstar at 168-pounds.

Russian Bivol, 32, thoroughly outboxed Alvarez at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada in a huge boilover. The scores were 115-113 across the board, but many fans and pundits felt the scores should have been much wider.

Despite the one-sided nature of the bout, Bellew believes the WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF champion can exact his revenge if they meet in the ring again.

“Dmitry Bivol,” Bellew said on the DAZN Boxing Show when asked who he thought should be Fighter of the Year. “Just that Canelo win. I’m not going to lie, I didn’t see it coming but he did. He showed not just me, but everyone just how good he can possibly be.

“No one was putting the house on Bivol beating Canelo, I’m sorry to say. That’s why he’s Fighter of the Year. He defeated the main man in boxing.

“I think the big thing with Bivol is when he’s got fear in his body, he’s a different animal. That’s the competitor, amazing footwork for a light heavyweight.

“I’m not going to lie. If they were to have a rematch, I’d favour Canelo. I really would.”

Sports reporter Ade Oladipo vehemently disagreed.

“Not a chance,” Oladipo said. “I think Bivol beats Canelo at 168.”

Alvarez is expected to defend his titles against Britain’s WBO interim titleholder John ‘The Gorilla’ Ryder 32-5 (18) in May and has indicated he wants a second crack at Bivol.

But right now Bivol is more interested in a four belt unification bout against WBC, WBO and IBF 175-pound champion Artur Beterbiev 18-0 (18).

It would seem that the earliest possible time Bivol-Alvarez II could take place is September.

There is no shame in losing to Bivol, who proved himself an elite boxer with excellent footwork and superb understanding of distance and timing.

“Bivol has gone up, in my estimation,” Bellew said. “No one is beating Canelo at 168. No one. I think Canelo can beat Bivol.”

Oladipo agreed.

“It’s difficult to argue; he went into the fight with Canelo as an underdog,” he said. “I edge to Dmitry Bivol; he unleashed another gear we didn’t know he had.

“I don’t think there’s been a crazy upset this year. For me, the Bivol one and being there as well and the way it just went quiet [at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas]. The Mexican fanbase is a knowledgeable fanbase. They know what’s going on and the way it went.”

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