I'm no Canelo hater, but there just aren't 4 rounds you could give him in that fight. There just aren't. Although I don't feel Canelo was ever hurt in the fight, he clearly had no answers. Bivol lived and worked off his jab and 1,2. I know Canelo said he thought he did enough to win but when he sees what we saw I think he changes his mind, although I don't expect him to come out and say it. It felt like Canelo thought he could just posture all night, throw bombs to Bivols shoulder and get a W. I don't agree with those saying Bivol could have KO'd him and I think the strategy and discipline he used was perfect. Had he let Canelo so much as land 1 flashy punch in a couple rounds in this fight I think Bivol would surely have lost the fight. Canelo is a really good fighter but size and style here were too much and I just don't see Canelo being able to do anything at all in a rematch. He literally found no success at all here to build off of. I tried the best I could and the most I could give Canelo was 3 rounds although officially I gave him 2. It wasn't a super exciting fight (but a good fight) and not many clean shots landed for either guy. Bivol did land the cleaner and harder punches IMO.
I mostly agree. Although I think Canelo was hurt a few times (not seriously in trouble) but hurt. I Also think in a rematch Bivol could and will drop him. Maybe not stop him based on his style but Canelo I believe won't run it back
I think Canelo knows in his heart that he lost to the better man, but it's bad for his brand to say it. Bivol suggested that he could make 168 for the rematch. I think Canelo would take the rematch at 175 but would hedge against risking his single biggest achievement (unifying 168) by putting them up for grabs against Bivol. At 175, Canelo can always say "not my weight class, but I tried". At 168, he has no excuse to fall back on if he fails.
If Canelo loses the rematch his brand is seriously devalued and his confidence will be on the floor. He will no longer be able to command the same paydays either. Look at even Mike Tyson. When Lewis battered him, he went from $30m to $5m paydays.
That's an excellent analyisis and one that I totally agree with. I think that Canelo will and should just cut his losses. The penalty for losing twice vs the avenging of a loss that 75% or more of boxing fans and fighters has forgiven him for already. That's a possible career crippling decision. Then again, the money is gonna be really big for the rematch, coupled with the fact that his fanbase will increase greatly and his legacy will take a big leap forward. CHOICES, I think that he should chose to treat that fight like a speed bump and keep on rolling.
I don't know about that. Tyson was 35 and clearly shot when he lost to Lewis and he was making $5 mill fighting nobodies. Canelo is still only 31 even if he loses to Bivol again he's still got a few years left where he's near prime and can pick up titles and make big fights unlike Tyson who was seen as totally washed up after Lewis and wasn't going anywhere near world class operators and simply milking some supposedly easy cash before retiring for good.
He better hang it up after GGG and maybe Munguía. Benavidez is waiting for him at 168 and Charlo at 160.
Kinda reminds me of when Shane Mosley was on top then dropped back to back losses to Vernon Forrest.. Great analysis. I think Bivol could have KO’d Canelo after the 9th round but he stayed disciplined defensively.. Initially I didn’t think Bivol had been active enough recently to remain sharp the whole fight but he proved me wrong.. I was wondering would he be up for the challenge after fighting the Craig Richard’s of the world. In reality looks like I shoulda have been wondering if fighting Yildirim, BJS and Plant prepared Canelo enough for someone of Bivol’s caliber. Anyways I see Canelo GGG in the fall and after that I don’t know which way he’ll go. I have my doubts he fights Bivol again unless Bivol fights Beterbiev first in a career changing war even if he win.
If I was Canelo I go first for Golovkin trilogy fight before Bivol rematch. Bad idea to go Bivol again next
Totally agree, I had it 10-2 also . The only thing at 175 for Canelo is an eventual beat down. He needs to rematch GGG then maybe the winner of Benavidez and Lemieux and let Bivol get the Beterbiev Smith winner. If Bivol handles either of them, and he probably should then maybe later he might consider a rematch. I'd advise him against the 175 pound division though. I think the little 5'8 flat footed fighter I saw walking to Bivol would be in serious trouble against Beterbiev and Joe Smith.
I agree Benevidez would beat Canelo but Charlo? I just don't see it. I think Canelo beats him easily. Charlo has a really good jab but easily allows fighters to get inside of him and his defense is porous and susceptible to counters which Canelo would take advantage of. Even if it was a competitive fight, I think what I said earlier would be the difference: Charlo would allow Canelo to get some of those flashy punches in so no way he gets a decision against him.
