By Boxing Scene Staff
July 25, 2022
Source: Boxing Scene
Photo Source: Boxing Scene
Former cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew believes Mexican superstar Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez has what it takes to get revenge on Dmitry Bivol in a potential rematch.
Back in May, Bivol outboxed Canelo over twelve rounds to retain the WBA light heavyweight title. The result was Canelo's second defeat as a pro and his first loss since dropping a twelve round decision to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2013.
Canelo had the option of exercising an immediate rematch clause, but he will first drop back to super middleweight to defend his undisputed crown against Gennadiy Golovkin in a trilogy fight on September 17. Should Canelo win, he wants to move forward with a rematch against Bivol - likely in May of next year.
For Bivol's part, he will have to stay unbeaten to get there, as the WBA recently ordered him to make a mandatory defense against Gilberto Ramirez.
Bellew, who retired in 2018, is no stranger to having rematches. If Canelo comes prepared to the best of his abilities, and is completely switched on in the ring, then Bellew confidently backs him to avenge the loss to Bivol.
“Must do better. Some will say that’s the matches he’s making. You want to set the standard so high? You’ve got to maintain it and stay there. He’s amazing, he’s still up there pound-for-pound," Bellew told The DAZN Boxing Show. “Everyone took him out the pound-for-pound list when he lost to Bivol. Absolutely not, he remains right up there for me. But there’s some things he has to do better. If he’s on his ‘A’ game that night he fights Bivol, I think he beats him. He wasn’t on his ‘A’ game so he has to do better.”
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