While Bivol isn't the most exciting opponent for Alvarez, he is a very difficult one as Bivol has an excellent jab, is light on his feet, and has shown a good right hand.
The problem with Bivol is this- since he took a huge right hand from now-WBO champion Joe Smith in a 2019 title defense that he otherwise won easily, Bivol has changed his game from that of an exciting boxer-puncher to a distance fighter that seems reluctant to press the attack with the results showing three lopsided and less than scintillating wins over outmatched opponents (Lenin Castillo, Craig Richards, and Umar Salamov).
Steve Kim uses the term "Rosarioed" for a fighter that changes their style completely after the first time that a fighter is badly hurt in a fight, in an attempt to avoid taking a big shot.
The term is named after former lightweight champion Edwin Rosario, who badly hurt Hector Camacho twice in their 1986 fight but lost a split decision to Camacho, who was never the same fighter in changing from a flashy boxer-puncher to a safety-first move and clutch performer.
Bivol's three post-Smith affairs give some signs that he could possibly have the same condition.
As for Canelo, he has broken down tall boxers in three of his last four fights in wins over Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders, and Caleb Plant and style-wise seems prepared for Bivol but beware as Bivol's jab is elite, not merely good, and elite jabs (as Gennady Golovkin proved) will give even the best fighter some issues.
While I'm not sure that this will be an entertaining fight (Unless Bivol decides to engage more often) it is should be an interesting fight and one that Bivol could be leading on the scorecards (or he should be, Canelo has gotten the edge with some strange scorecards over the years) moving into the final third of the fight.
The co-feature will pit undefeated junior welterweight Montana Love against Gabriel Valenzuela in a twelve rounder.
Love looked very strong in dismantling former IBF champion Ivan Baranchyk last year and forcing Baranchyk's corner to stop the fight after the seventh round and followed up with a third round knockout of Carlos Diaz, who entered the fight with one loss.
Valenzuela holds upset wins in the UK over Joe Hughes and Robbie Davies and only has two losses, so he's not a pushover but Love seems to be preparing to take the final step into perhaps being in the mix for one of the expected to be vacated titles at 140 pounds with an impressive win.
Boxing Challenge
TRS: Alvarez KO 10
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