Canelo who? Dmitry Bivol defeats Canelo Alvarez

Dmitry Bivol did what most thought he couldn’t.

The 5-1 underdog outworked Canelo Alvarez over 12 rounds. 

All three judges scored the fight 115-113 for Bivol.  

Maxboxing scored the fight 116-112 for Bivol. 

“Thank you everyone for coming,” said Bivol. “I proved myself today. Sorry I broke your plans with Gennadiy Golovkin." 

In the opening stanza, the taller Bivol (20-0. 11 KOs) established his long jab. Alvarez, working behind a high guard, bobbed and weaved – looking to counter. He fired a few hooks that missed. A right to the ribs landed. Bivol flurried near the end of the round.

Bivol fired five jabs in the first few seconds of round two. Alvarez tried to find a home for his uppercut. Bivol clipped Alvarez with a right. Alvarez landed rights to the head and body. Bivol’s pumped more jabs in round three. Alvarez landed an uppercut.  Bivol, moving to his left, connected with a 1-2. Alvarez fought back. Bivol connected with a right – Alvarez did solid work on the ropes.

Alvarez (57-2-2, 39 KOs) came out jabbing in round four. Bivol placed a right to the ribs. Alvarez fired a right. Bivol landed a number of blows while Alvarez languished on the ropes. Bivol was bouncing and confident, let his hands go in round four. Alvarez landed a right hand. Bivol flurried – connecting with combinations. 

Alvarez took the shots and motioned that he wanted more.

Bivol landed more blows in round six. Alvarez fired a right to the ribs. Bivol worked behind his jab. Alvarez countered, but Bivol was doing well. Bivol continued his high punch output in round seven. 

Alvarez connected with a right.  
 
In round eight, Bivol flurried again. He forced Alvarez into the ropes. Alvarez tried to land something big, but Bivol made him pay. His counters were on point. 

Alvarez came out fast in round nine - he was losing and likely sensed it. Bivol’s defense is excellent. He landed an uppercut. Bivol countered with a left to the ear. 

Bivol controlled round 10 with jabs and quick combinations.  Alvarez tried to land something big but failed. Russian-born Bivol cracked Alvarez with lefts and rights. Bivol was feeling it. 

Unofficially, Alvarez would need a knockout to win. He came out firing in the 12th and final round. Bivol, like he had the entire fight, took the blows well. Alvarez landed a right, but he was tired, and his punches lacked snap.