Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez vs. Dmitry Bivol | DAZN - 7 May 2022

[Ruthless-RKO]

WBA To Announce It'll Sanction As Light Heavyweight Title Fight

The WBA respects Wladimir Klitschko’s position and sacrifices related to the war in Ukraine, but it will still sanction Dmitry Bivol-Canelo Alvarez as a light heavyweight championship match.

Boxing Scene has learned that the WBA has determined after internal discussions to move forward with Bivol-Alvarez as a sanctioned title fight, despite pressure from Klitschko, one of its former heavyweight champions, and others to boycott the bout because Bivol is a Russian citizen. Klitschko is from Ukraine, where he and his older brother, Vitali, a former WBC heavyweight champ and mayor of Kyiv, remain committed to fighting Russian forces that have invaded their home country.

The WBA is expected to release a statement Saturday regarding its decision. The WBA ultimately ruled it would be unfair to penalize Bivol and Alvarez by not sanctioning their fight as a championship match.

Bivol has publicly expressed sympathy for innocent Ukrainians killed or otherwise harmed since Russia’s invasion last month. Alvarez moved back up to the light heavyweight division to box Bivol on May 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with the understanding that battling Bivol would afford him an opportunity to win the WBA 175-pound championship.

The 31-year-old Alvarez (57-1-2, 39 KOs), boxing’s undisputed super middleweight champion, will attempt to become a two-time light heavyweight champion versus Bivol (19-0, 11 KOs). DAZN will stream their main event worldwide.

Though the WBA has agreed to sanction Bivol-Alvarez for its light heavyweight title, Russian boxers aren’t ranked by the Panama City-based governing body.

The WBA removed Russian boxers from all of its rankings last month. That move drew criticism because it was widely viewed as unjustly punishing Russian fighters who haven’t publicly supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Like the IBF, WBC and WBO, the WBA won’t sanction title fights in Russia at least until the war in Ukraine ends. The IBF, WBC and WBO have not removed Russian fighters from the respective rankings of those sanctioning organizations.

[Ezzard]

Really want Bivol to win, at least in the ring if not on the scorecards.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[DrDuke]

Bivol is among the hardest possible opponents for Canelo today, so it's a great fight. Bivol has been looking good up to the date, he's a textbook boxer, who can stick to his plan and do his job, but he has never been pushed to the limit, that's why this bout creates a lot of intrigue. Bivol's ability to take a punch has never been tested too, which brings more questions. I think, Bivol can deliver Canelo troubles in a boxing match, but how fair the judges will be here?

[forcefraser]

Bivol will hae to stop him to get the win here. Too much money on and around Canelo.

Bivol is a top figter, but can he stop Alvarez? Doubt it.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release | Shakhram Giyasov vs. Christian Gomez Set

Shakhram Giyasov and Christian Gomez will clash for the IBF North American Welterweight title on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez vs. Dmitry Bivol at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday May 7, live on DAZN, excluding Latin America and Mexico. In the U.S. & Canada, the event will be offered exclusively on DAZN Pay-Per View (PPV).

Giyasov (12-0 9 KOs) moves up to Welterweight for the bout and will be aiming to make an instant impact. The 28 year old was handily ranked at #7 with the WBA and #10 with the IBF at 140lbs, but made his first steps at eyeing up the 147lbs division with a catchweight win over ten rounds in his Uzbek homeland in December. Previously, ‘Wonder Boy’ gained his lofty seedings with the governing bodies with explosive performances, landing the WBA International title at Super-Lightweight back in April 2019 and dispatching former World champion Darleys Perez inside one round and Patricio Moreno in three rounds last April.

The Uzbek star faces a real examination of his credentials at 147lbs in the shape of the dangerous Gomez (22-2-1 20 KOs), the big-hitting Mexican that will be aiming to use Canelo’s fans to roar him to victory. Gomez, also 28 years old, has been hunting a breakout fight and has landed it on Cinco De Mayo weekend in no small part thanks to an eye-catching KO streak stretching back six fights to August 2019, with two of those wins coming on Canelo cards in Texas.

With 29 of their 34 shared victories in the ring coming inside the distance, fans can expect a thrilling battle between the pair, and there is extra spice with both men being connected to the blockbuster main event, with Gomez part of the Clase Y Talento team masterminded by Canelo’s trainer and manager Eddy Reynoso, and Giyasov training alongside Bivol in California.

“I am honored to be part of this event,” said Giyasov. “For me, both Canelo and Bivol are legendary champions, but I believe in Bivol’s victory, we are on the same team, and we train together.

“This is a new chapter in my career as it will be my first fight in the Welterweight division, and I hope to perform at my best for all my fans!”

“My fight this upcoming May 7 we have a tough opponent but we’re preparing and training very hard,” said Gomez. “We’re coming with everything. Thank you to those that always support me. We’re coming for the win, God willing”

“This is an excellent addition to what promises to be a thrilling night of action in Las Vegas,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Shakhram is looking to make noise at Welterweight, but with the Mexican fans behind him, Christian is going to be a huge threat to ‘Wonder Boy’s’ plans – don’t blink watching this one, as both men carry big power and can end this one in an instant.”

Giyasov and Gomez clash on a huge night of action, topped by Canelo Alvarez looking to become a two-time Light-Heavyweight champion by taking Dmitry Bivol’s WBA belt.

Rising Super-Lightweight talent Montana Love meets Gabriel Valenzuela in a mouth-watering battle at 140lbs, while unbeaten Heavyweight’s Filip Hrgovic and Zhilei Zhang meet in a final eliminator for the mandatory spot for the IBF crown.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Canelo Turned Down Catchweight and Rehydration Options for Bivol Says Hearn

“You know that Canelo could have had a catchweight for this fight, real easy, real easy,” Hearn said on The DAZN Boxing Show. “Dmitry Bivol is not a massive 175. He would have accepted anything from 171 and up.

“We’ve had these conversations with Eddy Reynoso and Canelo. Canelo Alvarez and those guys, Eddy [said], ‘No catchweight. If this is going to be for the 175-pound title that’s the way it’s going to be.’”

“And rehydration clause, right, doesn’t exist,” Hearn continued. “They could have put a rehydration clause in this contract so easily and they said, ‘No rehydration clause. Why?’ And I’m like, ‘You’re coming up a division. You’re not at heavyweight. This guy could come in the ring at 185 pounds’ – No. Because he doesn’t feel that’s what greats do.”

“Honestly, I know I’m a massive Canelo fan, but you gotta respect [him],” Alvarez said. “He has the ability within these negotiations to turn the screws on anyone he wants. It’s the same with the Billy Joe Saunders situation with the ring. Remember? The ring size. No problem. No Problem.

"So he’s giving up advantages that he could have because he feels it would diminish the achievement and the accomplishments of moving [up] and fighting a real bigger man. He wants to fight the bigger man. He wants to be the underdog in the fight.

"Taking those things away – it’s very difficult to ever see him as the underdog in a fight – but taking those things away leaves so many advantages to Dmitry Bivol in this fight. That’s why you have to respect the man. This is a real fight on May 7."

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Probably noon walk in UK time.

[Ruthless-RKO]

So I just read that Canelo has brought in Oleksandr Gvozdyk to the training camp.

Will be used to spar.

[CaptainSpacerod]

Is this PPV on DAZN uk ?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Is this PPV on DAZN uk ?

no. normal £7.99 sub.

Only PPV in the US.

[gregregegg]

UK won't be PPV because it's 5 am... But what about Aus? Be a nice win considering dazn Australia is pretty much just goldenboy because Eddie's UK cards go to kayo..

[Ruthless-RKO]

UK won't be PPV because it's 5 am... But what about Aus? Be a nice win considering dazn Australia is pretty much just goldenboy because Eddie's UK cards go to kayo..

How do you normally get Canelo fights?

[gregregegg]

UK won't be PPV because it's 5 am... But what about Aus? Be a nice win considering dazn Australia is pretty much just goldenboy because Eddie's UK cards go to kayo..

How do you normally get Canelo fights?

They have been DAZN reg up untill now. But now that DAZN is moving into ppvs i dont know if this will be.

I get it being reg for uk, its 5am... but aus market is well use to ppvs at 3pm sunday arvo. so DAZN really could go either way.

[CaptainSpacerod]

Is this PPV on DAZN uk ?

no. normal £7.99 sub.

Only PPV in the US.

Cheers Ruthless

[Ruthless-RKO]

Russell Mora Tabbed As Referee;

Cheatham, Moretti, Weisfeld Selected As Judges

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ezzard]

Would love Bivol to win.

[DrDuke]

Would love Bivol to win.

Me too. Rooting for Dima!

[Ruthless-RKO]

Would love Bivol to win.

Me too. Rooting for Dima!

He has no chance on the cards, he’d have to win clear rounds and even then might get a draw.

I just don’t seem him KO’ing Canelo.

[DrDuke]

Would love Bivol to win.

Me too. Rooting for Dima!

He has no chance on the cards, he’d have to win clear rounds and even then might get a draw.

I just don’t seem him KO’ing Canelo.

I think the same, but still rooting for Bivol.

[Dioufy]

Bivol nicks it 15-13 for 2 judges to give it 11-1 for Canelo and the other giving it 14s all around.