Matchroom Sport chief Eddie Hearn has shed high appraisal on the WBA (Super) light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, saying that the undefeated Russian is the best in the division whom Canelo Alvarez will be facing in May. It will be the second fight at 175 for the reigning undisputed super middleweight champion of the world and Hearn says while Canelo is the pound for pound king, the fight is a lifetime opportunity for Bivol and will be in his absolute prime.
Bivol is is an outstanding champion in his absolute prime: Eddie Hearn
Back in November 2019, prior to starting his domination at 168, Canelo Alvarez made his light heavyweight debut against Sergei Kovalev and defeated the Russian to clinch the WBO belt at 175, before vacating the title and going down to super middleweight. Now, the 31-year-old Mexican will be making a return to the division and is set to take on the reigning WBA titleholder Dmitry Bivol on 7th May at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Eddie Hearn feels Canelo will be taking on the best at 175 in his encounter with Bivol.
“This is a true great of modern-day boxing and when you look at the resume off the back of the two fights with GGG, fights against Daniel Jacobs for the middleweight championship, stepping up two divisions to fight Sergei Kovalev for the WBO light heavyweight championship. Within one year becomes undisputed 168 pound champion by beating all three champions in Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders and Caleb Plant,” said Hearn.
“If that wasn’t enough, now he moves up again another division to fight in my opinion the best light heavyweight in the world in Dmitry Bivol. Dmitry Bivol is undefeated, current WBA champion of the world, we’ve worked with him for a long time, his manager Vadim Kornilov and world of boxing who we have a great relationship with.”
“This young man has been looking for an opportunity like this for a long time, this is not a young man who’s reached the end of his career or is past his prime, this is an outstanding champion in his absolute prime ready for the opportunity of his life against the pound-for-pound king of boxing – Saul Canelo Alvarez,” the British promoter added. [H/T Boxingscene.com]
Highlights:
- Eddie Hearn feels Canelo Alvarez will be facing the best light heavyweight fighter when he takes on Dmitry Bivol for the latter’s WBA title
- Canelo vs Bivol will take place on 7th May at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
