Bivol is just a better boxer than Canelo. Size didn't play a part in the result

Given that Bivol and Golovkin have main things in common as to boxing skills imo I think Bivol hold very well many Canelos dangerous blows to the face and to the body. For this reason I think he SURPRISED Canelo so much that in the end he was completely outclassed. Bivol destroyed Canelo mentally.

 

The only difference was height, and Canelo fought Smith who is taller than Bivol.

 

Everything played a part in it.

 

Size and reach absolutely played a part. How many times have we seen Canelo hurt by a jab? A bigger man beat on him for 12 rounds and he felt it. His body attack failed as Bivol was further away and his long arms blocked a lot to the body.

The fact that Bivol was fleeter of foot despite being the bigger guy might have been the most telling aspect of the fight. Canelo was too heavy, too flat footed. A single power shots were picked off and then he would get his head jabbed off by the bigger guy who could then find space for combinations.

 

Bivol was much better but size played a part too, look at how he wasn't really bothered by Canelo power.

Canelo strategy was terrible and the arm punch thing was ridiculous, it was clear it wasn't working and he was getting countered easily. Bivol's team speed that he drops his right hand after throwing the left hook liver shot and Canelo never adjusted.

I think this is one of those match ups that is all wrong for Canelo, even at 168.

 

YDKSAB.

 

Size did play a factor, it helped him take the punches that turned the tables at 168 and his height and reach clearly helped

Obviously size alone wasnt the determining factor but it was a factor

 

Canelos power is a strange thing to judge. Couldn't stop euro level fighters like Ryan Rhodes and Matthew Hatton.
His biggest KO's were against known chinny fighters in Khan and Kirkland... but as his career has gone on he power has defo increased as well. KOing Kovalev and beaking Saunders face and stopping plant is nothing to be sniffed at but I still don't think he's a huge puncher. Especially not at LH

 

No doubt he boxed canelos ears off, but you can’t tell me his power didn’t further deter canelo.

 

Do you think Canelo would’ve gotten to Bivol eventually if Bivol was a natural 168lb’er?

 

Yes. No.

Size was part of it. Without being relatively big and strong Bivol would not have been able to weather Canelo's offense. Speaking for myself, I overestimated Canelo's power and underestimated Bivol's resilience when I picked Canelo to win by stoppage late in the fight and maybe down on the cards.

Great big man beats great smaller man. There is a reason that this is conventional wisdom. Props to Canelo for trying to defy it.