Dmitry Bivol has pointed out a potential weakness in Canelo Alvarez's fighting style. The Russian boxer, who beat Canelo in May 2022, thinks this could give Terence Crawford an edge in their rumored upcoming bout.
Bivol became the second man to defeat Canelo when he won by unanimous decision in their light heavyweight clash. Canelo had moved up to 175lbs to try and grab world honors in another division, but Bivol proved too much for him on the night.
Since then, Bivol narrowly lost an undisputed showdown with Artur Beterbiev in October. They're set for a rematch next month. Canelo, on the other hand, went back down to super-middleweight and has been defending his world titles there.
Now, there's talk of Canelo facing Crawford later this year. Some fans worry it might be too much for Crawford, who'd have to move up several weight divisions. But Bivol thinks Crawford might have a shot if he can take advantage of Canelo's habit.
"He has good speed and good power. Maybe his mistake is he throws only hard punches. After hard punches he relaxes and he's tired."
Bivol's insight could be crucial for Crawford. As a former undisputed super-lightweight and welterweight champion, Crawford's got the skills. But he'll need every advantage he can get against the bigger Canelo.
Amir Khan, who's fought both men professionally, has already given his prediction for the potential matchup. As the only boxer with firsthand experience against both Canelo and Crawford, his opinion carries weight.
Time will tell if Canelo still has this weakness Bivol noticed. If he does, it could make for an interesting fight against Crawford.
Bivol's victory over Canelo was a turning point in both their careers. Now, his insights might shape the next big fight in boxing. We'll have to wait and see if Crawford can use this information to his advantage.
