LAS VEGAS – Dmitry Bivol, unleashing a masterful, powerful attack on the most well-known boxer in the world, upset Canelo Alvarez on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.
Judges Tim Cheatham, Dave Moretti and Steve Weisfeld all scored the bout 115-113 for Russia’s Bivol, who successfully defended his World Boxing Assn. light-heavyweight title and improved to 20-0.
“I proved myself today. I’m the best,” Bivol said in the ring. “He’s a great champion. I respect him. (But) if you don’t believe in yourself, you’ll never achieve.
“If you believe, you achieve what you want.”
Bivol said that while Alvarez “hurt my arm,” he also only “loaded up big punches,” freeing Bivol to unleash a steady attack led by his effective jab and featuring a steady offering of powerful combinations that backed up Alvarez and fatigued the naturally lighter pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter in the world.
“He’s a great champion. I lost. He won,” Alvarez (57-2-2) said. “He’s a very good fighter. He comes in, goes out … . He managed his distance really well. That’s boxing.”
Alvarez said he will opt to invoke his rematch clause. His loss takes away plans for a September trilogy fight against Gennadiy Golovkin.
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Here’s how the fight played out from the perspective of USA TODAY Sports’ Lance Pugmire at ringside:
ROUND 1: Following an extravagant entry that included a mariachi band playing, “The Final Countdown,” with fireworks sent skyward around him, Alvarez stood on…
