Dmitry Bivol stunned Canelo Alvarez and the boxing world by winning unanimous decision Saturday in Las Vegas.
Not only was Dmitry Bivol bigger than Canelo Alvarez. Turned out he was also better.
The WBA light heavyweight titleholder did on Saturday in Las Vegas what only Floyd Mayweather had been able to do, defeat the consensus pound-for-pound king. And while the scoring was close, most observers will agree that Bivol left little doubt about his superiority in the fight.
All three judges had the same score, 115-113, seven rounds to five. Boxing Junkie had it 117-111 for Bivol, nine rounds to three.
We’ll see whether Bivol can do it again in a rematch, which almost certainly will happen. However, on this night, he couldn’t have given a much better performance.
“I proved myself today,” Bivol said. “I’m the best in my [division]. I keep my belt.”
Bivol (20-0, 11 KOs) seemed to have a simple game plan: jab to control distance, fire off combinations to keep Alvarez at bay and win rounds, and employ a tight defense.
That formula left Alvarez frustrated and tired by the middle of the fight, when it became clear that Bivol wasn’t destined to be just another victim on Alvarez’s remarkable run of dominance in recent years.
The Mexican star seemed to enter the ring with the wrong game plan, which was to throw hard, single punches in an apparent effort to slow down Bivol or stop him.
He landed enough punches to be competitive but he didn’t go to the body as much as expected, which might’ve been a mistake. And, as Bivol pointed out, perhaps throwing so many power shots wore Alvarez down.
The fact that not many of Alvarez’s punches landed cleanly probably wore him down mentally.
“I felt his power,” Bivol said. “I can feel it on my arm. He beat my arm up but not my head. It’s better. He has good speed, good power. Maybe his mistake was throwing only hard punches. After all the punches, he [was] tired.
“… I was feeling great, like I never feel. I enjoyed this fight.”
Alvarez’s first setback in nine years raises questions.
Was the decision to move up from 168 to face a top 175-pounder in his prime a mistake? Was his game plan indeed flawed? Was it an off night? Or was it simply a matter of Bivol being a better boxer?
Alvarez thought he did enough to win the fight but he gave no excuses.
“You have to accept it,” he said. “It’s boxing. He’s a great champion. Sometimes in boxing you win, sometimes you lose. No excuses. I lost today and he won.”
He went on: “He’s a really good fighter. He comes in, goes out. I also felt his power. … I felt like maybe I did enough to win the fight but that’s boxing.”
Alvarez was asked afterward whether he would demand a rematch, which is guaranteed in the contract they signed. He didn’t hesitate to answer in the affirmative.
“Yes, this doesn’t end like this,” he said.
Bivol was asked the same question. And he, too, will happily do it a second time. Only he wants to be treated a little differently.
“No problem,” he said when asked about the rematch. “Let’s talk about a rematch. I wanted this fight because I wanted to get the opportunity [to face a superstar]. I didn’t fight for anything else but to get the fight. I want a rematch. I just want to make sure I can be treated like a champion now.
“… My fans believed in me. And it wasn’t a misjudgment.”
Canelo Alvarez’s mission against Dmitry Bivol on Saturday in Las Vegas: add to his legacy.
Canelo Alvarez has adopted a mantra in the past several years. And on Thursday he repeated it again at the final news conference before he challenges 175-pound titleholder Dmitry Bivol on pay-per-view Saturday from Las Vegas:
“I just want to make history.”
The undisputed super middleweight champ has already made a lot of that, defeating one elite opponent after another, collecting titles in four divisions and rising to No. 1 on most pound-for-pound lists (No. 2 on Boxing Junkie’s).
Alvarez has taken major titles from five of his last seven opponents. A victory over the unbeaten, naturally bigger WBA champ on Saturday would be more “history.”
“I like that challenge,” Alvarez said. “I just want to make history. This is the kind of challenge that puts me in the books of the history of boxing. I feel alive when I have this kind of challenge.
“I respect Dmitry Bivol [but] it’s my time. I feel I’m in my prime. I enjoy this kind of moment.”
Alvarez (57-1-2, 39 KOs) and longtime trainer Eddy Reynoso know that the challenge could be difficult.
The Mexican star faced an elite 175-pounder in November 2019, when he stopped Sergey Kovalev in the 11th round of what had been a close fight to take Kovalev’s WBO title (which he later vacated).
Kovalev was a good experienced, boxer with more punching power than Bivol but he was believed by many to be in decline at 36 years old. Both Alvarez and Bivol are 31 and in their primes.
Bivol, who had an extensive amateur career in Russia, is an excellent boxer with particularly good footwork and defensive skills. He’s slick.
“Obviously it’s a really difficult, complicated fight against a really good champion,” Reynoso said through a translator. “He’s a boxer who has faced great champions over the years and has a great amateur pedigree, as well.
“We’re looking to write history. That’s why we went up to 175. But he’s a really good boxer. It’ll be a difficult fight Saturday.”
Alvarez also acknowledged Bivol’s ability but he’s pretty sure who will have his hand raised.
“I’m ready,” he said. “I believe in my skills. And I’m very confident with how strong I am.”
Meanwhile, Bivol (19-0, 11 KOs) didn’t get to the pinnacle of his division by doubting himself.
The native of Kyrgyzstan demonstrated his mettle by defeating in succession Sullivan Barrera, Isaac Chilemba, Jean Pascal and Joe Smith Jr. in 2018 and 2019, one of the more impressive runs in recent history.
Of course, Alvarez is a significant step up from all of the above. Bivol recognizes and embraces that.
Can he win? As he put it, “Why not?”
“If you don’t believe in what you do, you never win,” he said. “I believe in my ring career. Why not? I’ve been boxing since I can remember, since I was 5 years old. At 16 I was a two-time world champion amateur. It means a lot.
Canelo Alvarez’s mission against Dmitry Bivol on Saturday in Las Vegas: add to his legacy.
Canelo Alvarez has adopted a mantra in the past several years. And on Thursday he repeated it again at the final news conference before he challenges 175-pound titleholder Dmitry Bivol on pay-per-view Saturday from Las Vegas:
“I just want to make history.”
The undisputed super middleweight champ has already made a lot of that, defeating one elite opponent after another, collecting titles in four divisions and rising to No. 1 on most pound-for-pound lists (No. 2 on Boxing Junkie’s).
Alvarez has taken major titles from five of his last seven opponents. A victory over the unbeaten, naturally bigger WBA champ on Saturday would be more “history.”
“I like that challenge,” Alvarez said. “I just want to make history. This is the kind of challenge that puts me in the books of the history of boxing. I feel alive when I have this kind of challenge.
“I respect Dmitry Bivol [but] it’s my time. I feel I’m in my prime. I enjoy this kind of moment.”
Alvarez (57-1-2, 39 KOs) and longtime trainer Eddy Reynoso know that the challenge could be difficult.
The Mexican star faced an elite 175-pounder in November 2019, when he stopped Sergey Kovalev in the 11th round of what had been a close fight to take Kovalev’s WBO title (which he later vacated).
Kovalev was a good experienced, boxer with more punching power than Bivol but he was believed by many to be in decline at 36 years old. Both Alvarez and Bivol are 31 and in their primes.
Bivol, who had an extensive amateur career in Russia, is an excellent boxer with particularly good footwork and defensive skills. He’s slick.
“Obviously it’s a really difficult, complicated fight against a really good champion,” Reynoso said through a translator. “He’s a boxer who has faced great champions over the years and has a great amateur pedigree, as well.
“We’re looking to write history. That’s why we went up to 175. But he’s a really good boxer. It’ll be a difficult fight Saturday.”
Alvarez also acknowledged Bivol’s ability but he’s pretty sure who will have his hand raised.
“I’m ready,” he said. “I believe in my skills. And I’m very confident with how strong I am.”
Meanwhile, Bivol (19-0, 11 KOs) didn’t get to the pinnacle of his division by doubting himself.
The native of Kyrgyzstan demonstrated his mettle by defeating in succession Sullivan Barrera, Isaac Chilemba, Jean Pascal and Joe Smith Jr. in 2018 and 2019, one of the more impressive runs in recent history.
Of course, Alvarez is a significant step up from all of the above. Bivol recognizes and embraces that.
Can he win? As he put it, “Why not?”
“If you don’t believe in what you do, you never win,” he said. “I believe in my ring career. Why not? I’ve been boxing since I can remember, since I was 5 years old. At 16 I was a two-time world champion amateur. It means a lot.
Canelo Alvarez vs. Dmitry Bivol: live round-by-round analysis, results, full coverage.
Canelo Alvarez is scheduled to challenge light heavyweight titleholder Dmitry Bivol on pay-per-view Saturday from Las Vegas.
Boxing Junkie will post live round-by-round analysis and then the final result. Simply come back to this post after each round and at the end of the fight.
And, finally, full coverage – a fight story, photo gallery and more analysis – will follow on separate posts the night of the fight and the following day.
Canelo Alvarez vs. Dmitry Bivol: live round-by-round analysis, results, full coverage.
Canelo Alvarez is scheduled to challenge light heavyweight titleholder Dmitry Bivol on pay-per-view Saturday from Las Vegas.
Boxing Junkie will post live round-by-round analysis and then the final result. Simply come back to this post after each round and at the end of the fight.
And, finally, full coverage – a fight story, photo gallery and more analysis – will follow on separate posts the night of the fight and the following day.
Canelo Alvarez vs Dmitry Bivol: The Boxing Junkie 5-point analysis.
Canelo Alvarez will be facing a capable opponent in light heavyweight titleholder Dmitry Bivol in a pay-per-view bout Saturday in Las Vegas.
We’ve described the Mexican star’s foes that way in the past, though. And we know what generally happens in the fights: Alvarez patiently dissects his opponent, breaks him down and ultimately wins a clear decision or scores a late knockout.
Could this fight turn out differently? It’s possible. Bivol is an excellent boxer and will have a natural size advantage. Alvarez might have to work particularly hard to employ his formula and have his hand raised. And who knows? Maybe we’re in for a surprise.
Date: Saturday, May 7 Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas TV: Pay-per-view Division: Light heavyweight At stake: Bivol’s WBA title Current win streak: Alvarez, 8; Bivol, 19 Ages: Both 31 Stances: Both orthodox Trajectory: Alvarez at peak; Bivol at peak Also fighting: Montana Love vs. Gabriel Valenzuela, junior welterweights; Scott Alexander vs. Zhang Zhilei, heavyweights; Shakhram Giyasov vs. Christian Gomez, welterweights; Joselito Velazquez vs. Jose Soto, flyweights Worth watching (up to five stars)?* * * *
SKILL SET
Alvarez
Alvarez has never been satisfied with the status quo, one reason he has evolved into one of the best boxers in the world. The Mexican star had unusual God-given ability when he turned pro at 15 years old in 2005. That allowed him to win consistently from the start. However, under the tutelage of Chepo and Eddy Reynoso, he has improved dramatically as the years have passed. Most notably he turned himself into an excellent defensive fighter, using head movement and uncanny anticipation. That, combined with his dangerous offensive arsenal, has made him a complete fighter.
Bivol
Bivol cut his boxing teeth in the Russian amateur system, which gave him an outstanding fundamental foundation. That, combined with natural speed and athleticism, helped him progress rapidly as a professional. He has a good jab and terrific footwork, two reasons he has been able to take charge in most of his fights. And, like Alvarez, he’s difficult to hit cleanly. Don’t be surprised if Alvarez, normally an accurate puncher, has problems connecting consistently against Bivol for half of the fight or more. The native of Kyrgyzstan has that kind of boxing ability.
Edge: Alvarez
PUNCHING POWER
Alvarez
Alvarez has more knockouts (39) than many elite boxers have professional fights. However, that doesn’t mean he’s a knockout artist, at least not of the one-punch variety. He can hurt anyone with a single shot but generally needs to combine his punches – including a commitment to body work – to take elite opponents out.
Bivol
Bivol isn’t a big puncher in spite of the fact he has stopped more than half his opponents. His career can be divided into two parts based on knockouts: He stopped 11 of his 13 opponents, none of his last six. That could be attributed to improved opposition, which typically results in fewer stoppages. Some believe he has been less committed to his power punches since Joe Smith Jr. hurt him four fights ago.
Edge: Alvarez
EXPERIENCE
Alvarez
Alvarez compensated for a short amateur career by fighting 60 times over 16-plus years as a professional. And he has fought at the highest level of the sport for more than a decade, with a reported 19 major title fights on the biggest stages of the sport. Nothing fazes him because he has seen and done it all.
Bivol
Bivol reportedly had 283 amateur fights (268-15), which provided valuable experience even though he wasn’t in the paid ranks. He faced every imaginable style and traveled extensively as part of the Russian team. And he has fought primarily elite opponents as a pro, which has given him added experience. One disadvantage: He has never taken part in a fight anywhere near as big as this one.
Edge: Alvarez
DURABILITY
Alvarez
One reason Alvarez has enjoyed success is his chin. Jose Cotto, Miguel’s brother, stung Alvarez in the first round of their fight back in 2010. And Gennadiy Golovkin got his attention a few times in their fights. Otherwise, he has been a rock. And he has suffered no serious injuries, another indication of his unusual durability
Bivol
Bivol reportedly has never been down in his 19 pro fights, which says something about his durability. And even when he was stung by Smith — one of the hardest punchers pound for pound — he recovered quickly, a testament to his fitness and recuperative powers. Alvarez certainly can’t punch as hard as Smith.
Edge: Alvarez
INTANGIBLES
Alvarez
Alvarez will have an advantage over most fighters in this category. He has so much experience under the bright lights that it has become a non-factor for him. His longtime trainer, Eddy Reynoso, has evolved into one of the best in the business. The vast majority of spectators at T-Mobile Arena will be rooting for him. The list goes on.
Bivol
Bivol has fought as a light heavyweight his entire pro career, giving him a natural size advantage over Alvarez. He also has a good, experienced trainer, Joel Diaz. The fact he’s based in Southern California means he won’t have to travel, which can be a disadvantage. And, as the underdog, he has nothing to lose. The pressure is on Alvarez, not him.
Edge: Alvarez
PREDICTION
Bivol poses a legitimate threat to Alvarez. His combination of polished skills and size advantage is a one-two punch that could make the favorite’s life miserable and possibly topple him. That said, it’s impossible to pick against Alvarez. He has demonstrated dozens of times that he has the ability to figure out his opponents and ultimately dominate them, the result being one victory after another. That’s probably what we’ll see on Saturday.
Canelo Alvarez vs Dmitry Bivol: The Boxing Junkie 5-point analysis.
Canelo Alvarez will be facing a capable opponent in light heavyweight titleholder Dmitry Bivol in a pay-per-view bout Saturday in Las Vegas.
We’ve described the Mexican star’s foes that way in the past, though. And we know what generally happens in the fights: Alvarez patiently dissects his opponent, breaks him down and ultimately wins a clear decision or scores a late knockout.
Could this fight turn out differently? It’s possible. Bivol is an excellent boxer and will have a natural size advantage. Alvarez might have to work particularly hard to employ his formula and have his hand raised. And who knows? Maybe we’re in for a surprise.
Date: Saturday, May 7 Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas TV: Pay-per-view Division: Light heavyweight At stake: Bivol’s WBA title Current win streak: Alvarez, 8; Bivol, 19 Ages: Both 31 Stances: Both orthodox Trajectory: Alvarez at peak; Bivol at peak Also fighting: Montana Love vs. Gabriel Valenzuela, junior welterweights; Scott Alexander vs. Zhang Zhilei, heavyweights; Shakhram Giyasov vs. Christian Gomez, welterweights; Joselito Velazquez vs. Jose Soto, flyweights Worth watching (up to five stars)?* * * *
SKILL SET
Alvarez
Alvarez has never been satisfied with the status quo, one reason he has evolved into one of the best boxers in the world. The Mexican star had unusual God-given ability when he turned pro at 15 years old in 2005. That allowed him to win consistently from the start. However, under the tutelage of Chepo and Eddy Reynoso, he has improved dramatically as the years have passed. Most notably he turned himself into an excellent defensive fighter, using head movement and uncanny anticipation. That, combined with his dangerous offensive arsenal, has made him a complete fighter.
Bivol
Bivol cut his boxing teeth in the Russian amateur system, which gave him an outstanding fundamental foundation. That, combined with natural speed and athleticism, helped him progress rapidly as a professional. He has a good jab and terrific footwork, two reasons he has been able to take charge in most of his fights. And, like Alvarez, he’s difficult to hit cleanly. Don’t be surprised if Alvarez, normally an accurate puncher, has problems connecting consistently against Bivol for half of the fight or more. The native of Kyrgyzstan has that kind of boxing ability.
Edge: Alvarez
PUNCHING POWER
Alvarez
Alvarez has more knockouts (39) than many elite boxers have professional fights. However, that doesn’t mean he’s a knockout artist, at least not of the one-punch variety. He can hurt anyone with a single shot but generally needs to combine his punches – including a commitment to body work – to take elite opponents out.
Bivol
Bivol isn’t a big puncher in spite of the fact he has stopped more than half his opponents. His career can be divided into two parts based on knockouts: He stopped 11 of his 13 opponents, none of his last six. That could be attributed to improved opposition, which typically results in fewer stoppages. Some believe he has been less committed to his power punches since Joe Smith Jr. hurt him four fights ago.
Edge: Alvarez
EXPERIENCE
Alvarez
Alvarez compensated for a short amateur career by fighting 60 times over 16-plus years as a professional. And he has fought at the highest level of the sport for more than a decade, with a reported 19 major title fights on the biggest stages of the sport. Nothing fazes him because he has seen and done it all.
Bivol
Bivol reportedly had 283 amateur fights (268-15), which provided valuable experience even though he wasn’t in the paid ranks. He faced every imaginable style and traveled extensively as part of the Russian team. And he has fought primarily elite opponents as a pro, which has given him added experience. One disadvantage: He has never taken part in a fight anywhere near as big as this one.
Edge: Alvarez
DURABILITY
Alvarez
One reason Alvarez has enjoyed success is his chin. Jose Cotto, Miguel’s brother, stung Alvarez in the first round of their fight back in 2010. And Gennadiy Golovkin got his attention a few times in their fights. Otherwise, he has been a rock. And he has suffered no serious injuries, another indication of his unusual durability
Bivol
Bivol reportedly has never been down in his 19 pro fights, which says something about his durability. And even when he was stung by Smith — one of the hardest punchers pound for pound — he recovered quickly, a testament to his fitness and recuperative powers. Alvarez certainly can’t punch as hard as Smith.
Edge: Alvarez
INTANGIBLES
Alvarez
Alvarez will have an advantage over most fighters in this category. He has so much experience under the bright lights that it has become a non-factor for him. His longtime trainer, Eddy Reynoso, has evolved into one of the best in the business. The vast majority of spectators at T-Mobile Arena will be rooting for him. The list goes on.
Bivol
Bivol has fought as a light heavyweight his entire pro career, giving him a natural size advantage over Alvarez. He also has a good, experienced trainer, Joel Diaz. The fact he’s based in Southern California means he won’t have to travel, which can be a disadvantage. And, as the underdog, he has nothing to lose. The pressure is on Alvarez, not him.
Edge: Alvarez
PREDICTION
Bivol poses a legitimate threat to Alvarez. His combination of polished skills and size advantage is a one-two punch that could make the favorite’s life miserable and possibly topple him. That said, it’s impossible to pick against Alvarez. He has demonstrated dozens of times that he has the ability to figure out his opponents and ultimately dominate them, the result being one victory after another. That’s probably what we’ll see on Saturday.
Editor’s note: This article was originally posted this past November. It has been updated to include 2021. Canelo Alvarez has known almost nothing but success over the past decade-plus. The Mexican star has beaten one ranked fighter after another, …
Editor’s note: This article was originally posted this past November. It has been updated to include 2021.
Canelo Alvarez has known almost nothing but success over the past decade-plus.
The Mexican star has beaten one ranked fighter after another, won major titles in four divisions and is on the cusp of becoming an undisputed champion for the first time. Alvarez (57-1-2, 38 KOs) challenges Dmitry Bivol in a pay-per-view bout Saturday from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
In this special feature, we take a look at Alvarez’s performances year by calendar year and then rank those years – best to worst – beginning in 2010, when he was introduced to American audiences on a significant scale.
The current year is not including because it hinges on Saturday’s fight. If he wins, it will be among his best years. If he loses, it will be down the list.
Here is what we came up with:
2019
Record: 2-0 Opponents: Daniel Jacobs (UD) and Sergey Kovalev (KO 11) Background: The victory over Jacobs seems to fly under the radar but it was impressive. Jacobs was talented, polished, a big middleweight and at the top of his game when he met Alvarez in a title-unification bout. And the Mexican was up to the challenge, outboxing Jacobs to win a unanimous decision in a competitive fight. … Six months later he made a bold move by deciding to move up to light heavyweight to challenge beltholder Kovalev, who was somewhat past his prime but still dangerous and bigger than Alvarez. The Russian fought Alvarez on roughly even terms until the challenger dropped the hammer in Round 11. Two big fights, two big victories.
2018
Record: 2-0 Opponents: Gennadiy Golovkin (MD) and Rocky Fielding (TKO 3) Background: The victory over Triple-G in their rematch was arguably the greatest of Alvarez’s career. The two best 160-pounders in the world had fought to a disputed draw a year earlier and there was every reason to believe the second fight would be just as close and perhaps disputed. It was, as both men held their own. However, unlike the first meeting, Alvarez pushed the action much of the fight and was rewarded for that on two of three cards. Golovkin was unbeaten and had made a record-tying 20 successful defenses going into the fight. … Throw out the Fielding fight. That was a secondary 168-pound title grab against a second-tier opponent.
2015
Record: 2-0 Opponents: James Kirkland (KO 3) and Miguel Cotto (UD) Background: The victory over the wildly aggressive Kirkland wasn’t as meaningful many other Alvarez triumphs because of the Texan’s limitations. However, Alvarez’s brutal knockout might’ve been the most breathtaking of his 38 stoppages, which added considerably to his growing star power. … Cotto, 35, was past his prime and a smallish 154-pounder but his unquestioned ability and experience made him a threat to Alvarez, at least on paper. In the end, the slick Puerto Rican did give Alvarez some difficulty but he ended up on the wrong end of a clear decision.
2014
Record: 2-0 Opponents: Alfredo Angulo (TKO 10) and Erislandy Lara (SD) Background: Some might forget that Angulo was a solid, durable boxer who was coming off a strong performance in a loss to the respected Lara when he fought Alvarez. Yet Alvarez dominated his fellow Mexican in his first fight since losing to Floyd Mayweather. He outboxed Angulo for nine rounds and then stopped him in Round 10. … Some of Alvarez’s handlers didn’t want him to fight Lara, a tricky Cuban southpaw who could make anyone look bad. And that’s how it played out. Alvarez had to scrape and claw to eke out a split-decision victory that many believe was a gift from two of the three judges.
2021
Record: 3-0 Opponent: Avni Yildirim (KO 3), Billy Joe Saunders (KO 8), Caleb Plant (KO 11) Background: Alvarez realized a goal by becoming undisputed super middleweight champion in a busy year last year. He fought the limited Yildirim in February only because he was his mandatory challenger. He then faced capable beltholders in Saunders (in May) and Plant (November), who held their own against Alvarez until he caught up with them, broke them down and ultimately stopped them. He turned 31 in July 2021. He obviously hadn’t slowed down.
2020
Record: 1-0 Opponent: Callum Smith (UD) Background: Alvarez fought only once in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic but made the most the 168-pound title-unification bout. Smith was a legitimate opponent on paper, tall, skillful, experienced. He was an underdog but some believes he could be competitive against Alvarez. He wasn’t. Alvarez had his way with the Englishman in part because the latter didn’t have the power to knock Alvarez off his game, the result being a one-sided decision in a one-sided fight. The victory gave Alvarez two of the four major super middleweight titles, after which he set his sights on the last two.
2016
Record: 2-0 Opponents: Amir Khan (KO 6) and Liam Smith (KO 9) Background: Alvarez’s knockout of Khan rivals his stoppage of James Kirkland. Khan, a quick, capable boxer who had moved up from 147 pounds to a catch weight of 155, held his own for five-plus rounds and then BAM! A right hand from hell put Khan down and removed him from his senses. … The Smith fight was as much about the crowd size and venue – 50,000-plus at the home of the Dallas Cowboys – as the opponent. Smith, the brother of Callum Smith, was a solid all-around fighter but had no where near Alvarez’s ability. The Englishman was overwhelmed in the end.
2012
Record: 2-0 Opponents: Shane Mosley (UD) and Josesito Lopez (TKO 5) Background: Mosley, 40, was well past his prime when he met Alvarez but the fight was important for the rising star because Sugar Shane was the first major figure on his resume. And he didn’t disappoint, even at 21 years old. The younger, faster man outboxed his overmatched elder from beginning to end to win by a near-shutout decision. Taking down a future Hall of Famer is a significant step in any fighter’s career. … Lopez was and remains a gutsy warrior but he was too small for Alvarez, who put him down three times in a one-sided junior middleweight fight.
2011
Record: 4-0 Opponents: Matthew Hatton (UD), Ryan Rhodes (TKO 12), Alfonso Gomez (TKO 6), Kermit Cintron (TKO 5) Background: One could argue that the limited Matthew Hatton. Ricky’s brother, didn’t have the credentials to be fighting for a major belt. However, the fact is he and Alvarez met for the junior middleweight title vacated by Manny Pacquiao. And it wasn’t much of a fight. Alvarez, levels above Hatton, would’ve won every round on all three cards had he not lost a point for hitting after the break in Round 7. He had won the first of eight titles at the tender age of 20. Rhodes, Gomez and Cintron were all solid fighters carefully selected to help Alvarez develop into one of the best fighters in the business.
2010
Record: 5-0 Opponents: Brian Camechis (KO 3), Jose Cotto (TKO 9), Luciano Cuello (TKO 6), Carlos Baldomir (KO 6) and Lovemore Ndou (UD 12) Background: 2010 was most notable because it was the year in which Alvarez fought on a major U.S. card for the first time. The 19-year-old redhead from Guadalajara stopped Jose Cotto, Miguel’s brother, in the ninth round on the Mayweather-Mosley card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Cotto hurt Alvarez with a left hook in Round 1 but the teenager battled through it and ended up winning by knockout. Camechis, Cuello, Baldomir and Ndou didn’t give the evolving young star much resistance, which was a pattern that would continue when Alvarez faced second-tier opposition.
2017
Record: 1-0-1 Opponents: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (UD) and Gennadiy Golovkin (SD D) Background: A showdown between Alvarez and Chavez had been discussed for years. When it finally happened, it wasn’t much of a fight. Alvarez outclassed (embarrassed?) the son of a Mexican legend, winning every round on all three cards. … The first fight between Alvarez and Triple-G was the ultimate middleweight matchup, between a long-reigning knockout artist (Golovkin) and a rising superstar (Alvarez). The Kazakhstani used effective aggression to win over most observers in a competitive fight but he had to settle for a controversial draw. Indeed, Alvarez was fortunate he didn’t leave the ring with his second loss.
2013
Record: 1-1 Opponents: Austin Trout (UD) and Floyd Mayweather (UD L) Background: The 22-year-old Alvarez took a significant risk when he decided to fight the skillful Trout, who was left-handed, unbeaten and coming off a defining victory over Miguel Cotto. The gamble paid off. In his finest performance to date, he outboxed Trout to win a clear decision. … The decision to fight Mayweather was even bolder. And it didn’t pay off, at least in terms of results. The pound-for-pound king schooled the upstart, who didn’t have the tools to compete with a boxing wizard like Mayweather. The good news for him is that the setback sharpened his resolve to get better. He did.
Editor’s note: This article was originally posted this past November. It has been updated to include 2021. Canelo Alvarez has known almost nothing but success over the past decade-plus. The Mexican star has beaten one ranked fighter after another, …
Editor’s note: This article was originally posted this past November. It has been updated to include 2021.
Canelo Alvarez has known almost nothing but success over the past decade-plus.
The Mexican star has beaten one ranked fighter after another, won major titles in four divisions and is on the cusp of becoming an undisputed champion for the first time. Alvarez (57-1-2, 38 KOs) challenges Dmitry Bivol in a pay-per-view bout Saturday from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
In this special feature, we take a look at Alvarez’s performances year by calendar year and then rank those years – best to worst – beginning in 2010, when he was introduced to American audiences on a significant scale.
The current year is not including because it hinges on Saturday’s fight. If he wins, it will be among his best years. If he loses, it will be down the list.
Here is what we came up with:
2019
Record: 2-0 Opponents: Daniel Jacobs (UD) and Sergey Kovalev (KO 11) Background: The victory over Jacobs seems to fly under the radar but it was impressive. Jacobs was talented, polished, a big middleweight and at the top of his game when he met Alvarez in a title-unification bout. And the Mexican was up to the challenge, outboxing Jacobs to win a unanimous decision in a competitive fight. … Six months later he made a bold move by deciding to move up to light heavyweight to challenge beltholder Kovalev, who was somewhat past his prime but still dangerous and bigger than Alvarez. The Russian fought Alvarez on roughly even terms until the challenger dropped the hammer in Round 11. Two big fights, two big victories.
2018
Record: 2-0 Opponents: Gennadiy Golovkin (MD) and Rocky Fielding (TKO 3) Background: The victory over Triple-G in their rematch was arguably the greatest of Alvarez’s career. The two best 160-pounders in the world had fought to a disputed draw a year earlier and there was every reason to believe the second fight would be just as close and perhaps disputed. It was, as both men held their own. However, unlike the first meeting, Alvarez pushed the action much of the fight and was rewarded for that on two of three cards. Golovkin was unbeaten and had made a record-tying 20 successful defenses going into the fight. … Throw out the Fielding fight. That was a secondary 168-pound title grab against a second-tier opponent.
2015
Record: 2-0 Opponents: James Kirkland (KO 3) and Miguel Cotto (UD) Background: The victory over the wildly aggressive Kirkland wasn’t as meaningful many other Alvarez triumphs because of the Texan’s limitations. However, Alvarez’s brutal knockout might’ve been the most breathtaking of his 38 stoppages, which added considerably to his growing star power. … Cotto, 35, was past his prime and a smallish 154-pounder but his unquestioned ability and experience made him a threat to Alvarez, at least on paper. In the end, the slick Puerto Rican did give Alvarez some difficulty but he ended up on the wrong end of a clear decision.
2014
Record: 2-0 Opponents: Alfredo Angulo (TKO 10) and Erislandy Lara (SD) Background: Some might forget that Angulo was a solid, durable boxer who was coming off a strong performance in a loss to the respected Lara when he fought Alvarez. Yet Alvarez dominated his fellow Mexican in his first fight since losing to Floyd Mayweather. He outboxed Angulo for nine rounds and then stopped him in Round 10. … Some of Alvarez’s handlers didn’t want him to fight Lara, a tricky Cuban southpaw who could make anyone look bad. And that’s how it played out. Alvarez had to scrape and claw to eke out a split-decision victory that many believe was a gift from two of the three judges.
2021
Record: 3-0 Opponent: Avni Yildirim (KO 3), Billy Joe Saunders (KO 8), Caleb Plant (KO 11) Background: Alvarez realized a goal by becoming undisputed super middleweight champion in a busy year last year. He fought the limited Yildirim in February only because he was his mandatory challenger. He then faced capable beltholders in Saunders (in May) and Plant (November), who held their own against Alvarez until he caught up with them, broke them down and ultimately stopped them. He turned 31 in July 2021. He obviously hadn’t slowed down.
2020
Record: 1-0 Opponent: Callum Smith (UD) Background: Alvarez fought only once in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic but made the most the 168-pound title-unification bout. Smith was a legitimate opponent on paper, tall, skillful, experienced. He was an underdog but some believes he could be competitive against Alvarez. He wasn’t. Alvarez had his way with the Englishman in part because the latter didn’t have the power to knock Alvarez off his game, the result being a one-sided decision in a one-sided fight. The victory gave Alvarez two of the four major super middleweight titles, after which he set his sights on the last two.
2016
Record: 2-0 Opponents: Amir Khan (KO 6) and Liam Smith (KO 9) Background: Alvarez’s knockout of Khan rivals his stoppage of James Kirkland. Khan, a quick, capable boxer who had moved up from 147 pounds to a catch weight of 155, held his own for five-plus rounds and then BAM! A right hand from hell put Khan down and removed him from his senses. … The Smith fight was as much about the crowd size and venue – 50,000-plus at the home of the Dallas Cowboys – as the opponent. Smith, the brother of Callum Smith, was a solid all-around fighter but had no where near Alvarez’s ability. The Englishman was overwhelmed in the end.
2012
Record: 2-0 Opponents: Shane Mosley (UD) and Josesito Lopez (TKO 5) Background: Mosley, 40, was well past his prime when he met Alvarez but the fight was important for the rising star because Sugar Shane was the first major figure on his resume. And he didn’t disappoint, even at 21 years old. The younger, faster man outboxed his overmatched elder from beginning to end to win by a near-shutout decision. Taking down a future Hall of Famer is a significant step in any fighter’s career. … Lopez was and remains a gutsy warrior but he was too small for Alvarez, who put him down three times in a one-sided junior middleweight fight.
2011
Record: 4-0 Opponents: Matthew Hatton (UD), Ryan Rhodes (TKO 12), Alfonso Gomez (TKO 6), Kermit Cintron (TKO 5) Background: One could argue that the limited Matthew Hatton. Ricky’s brother, didn’t have the credentials to be fighting for a major belt. However, the fact is he and Alvarez met for the junior middleweight title vacated by Manny Pacquiao. And it wasn’t much of a fight. Alvarez, levels above Hatton, would’ve won every round on all three cards had he not lost a point for hitting after the break in Round 7. He had won the first of eight titles at the tender age of 20. Rhodes, Gomez and Cintron were all solid fighters carefully selected to help Alvarez develop into one of the best fighters in the business.
2010
Record: 5-0 Opponents: Brian Camechis (KO 3), Jose Cotto (TKO 9), Luciano Cuello (TKO 6), Carlos Baldomir (KO 6) and Lovemore Ndou (UD 12) Background: 2010 was most notable because it was the year in which Alvarez fought on a major U.S. card for the first time. The 19-year-old redhead from Guadalajara stopped Jose Cotto, Miguel’s brother, in the ninth round on the Mayweather-Mosley card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Cotto hurt Alvarez with a left hook in Round 1 but the teenager battled through it and ended up winning by knockout. Camechis, Cuello, Baldomir and Ndou didn’t give the evolving young star much resistance, which was a pattern that would continue when Alvarez faced second-tier opposition.
2017
Record: 1-0-1 Opponents: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (UD) and Gennadiy Golovkin (SD D) Background: A showdown between Alvarez and Chavez had been discussed for years. When it finally happened, it wasn’t much of a fight. Alvarez outclassed (embarrassed?) the son of a Mexican legend, winning every round on all three cards. … The first fight between Alvarez and Triple-G was the ultimate middleweight matchup, between a long-reigning knockout artist (Golovkin) and a rising superstar (Alvarez). The Kazakhstani used effective aggression to win over most observers in a competitive fight but he had to settle for a controversial draw. Indeed, Alvarez was fortunate he didn’t leave the ring with his second loss.
2013
Record: 1-1 Opponents: Austin Trout (UD) and Floyd Mayweather (UD L) Background: The 22-year-old Alvarez took a significant risk when he decided to fight the skillful Trout, who was left-handed, unbeaten and coming off a defining victory over Miguel Cotto. The gamble paid off. In his finest performance to date, he outboxed Trout to win a clear decision. … The decision to fight Mayweather was even bolder. And it didn’t pay off, at least in terms of results. The pound-for-pound king schooled the upstart, who didn’t have the tools to compete with a boxing wizard like Mayweather. The good news for him is that the setback sharpened his resolve to get better. He did.
