For Bivol the carrot is there if all four 168 straps were up for grabs? I can't see Canelo risking this, but given Bivol agreed to all Canelo's stipualtions @175, making the rematch at 168 is about the best chance Canelo has IMO. But I think Caenlo would be better served avoiding any rematch with Dmitry and focussing on Benavidez, Charlo etc - even at 168 Bivol would be too much - he only rehydrates up to 182 and has said repeatedly that he can make 168, so not sure it would benefit Canelo that much. But would make the rematch a bit more interesting - higher stakes
Benavidez`s style is similar to Bivol`s,i think he would beat the exposed canelo. and after seeing both bivol & beterbiev fights,i think bivol would decision beterbiev. bivol should not go down in weight to fight canelo.
Bivol should stay at 175. Why give Canelo an advantage? that said, if he thinks he can make 168 no problem, who am I to tell him what to do?
If they made the rematch at 168, I suspect come fight night Bivol would weigh pretty much the same as he did at the weekend. He didn't pile on the pounds and fought at 183. Save the burden of making 168 - which Bivol in the past has claimed he can - and managing the rehydration after weigh-in, I don't think it would impact him greatly. It also eliminates the weight excuse and puts the burden of pressure back on Canelo. Imagine losing to the same guy in two different divisions?
What can Canelo do at 168lb that he can't do at 175lbs? He fights the same way, and he'll rehyrate to the same weight (around 180lbs) on fight night as well.....same as Bivol. The only difference is they'll both go through a longer weight cut which MAY affect Bivol more as he's naturally leaner and taller but the result will be the same - Bivol UD. Canelo needs to fight GGG in September otherwise he'll lose his star appeal if he loses to Bivol again. Beat an old faded GGG and let Bivol face off against Beterbiev. Fight the winner of that (likely Beterbiev). Canelo needs to maximise his earning potential while he still has it. Back to back losses and no-one network will want to pay him unless he is willing to take a severe pay cut. Canelo needs to restore his confidence and Bivol needs to fight in a unification fight. Even if Bivol loses to Beterbiev (a naturally bigger fighter) he can still rematch Canelo and get big money if they market it as a grugde rematch.
Bivol is just an outright better fighter than Canelo who has been overrated from day one. They weighed roughly the same fight night 180-183lbs (Bivol confirmed 183, Canelo claimed before fight he'd weigh 180). Canelo weighed in HBO fight night weights at 174lbs when he weighed 154lbs. At 168lbs he'd likely weigh high 170s, if not in 180s. His fight night weight is essentially the same at 168 as it is at 175lbs, except at 175lbs he doesn't have to cut that much. He looked just as fast and strong at 168 as at 175lbs. The only difference is, he had a skilled opponent who came to win. And Canelo got exposed for the one dimensional fraud he is
Not sure this rematch happens. He loses again especially at 168 he will lose a lot of star power. He has a built in excuse about going up too much in weight.
100% agree. Canelo's brand would tank if he lost to Bivol at 168. The loss at 175 can be blamed on too much size. That leaves a small tarnish which can be erased with a good performance at 168.
I agree largely Although I dont think Canelo is a fraud. He just hit his ceiling and got brought down to earth.
