Via Allan Fox: Promoter Richard Schaefer is predicting that Canelo Alvarez will “shut down” his doubts and return from a loss to Dmitry Bivol in 2023.
Former Golden Boy promoter Schaefer attributed Canelo’s narrow 12th round loss to WBA lightweight champion Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) last May to “overnight stay,” which is caused by “things” going on in his personal life.
We already know that Canelo (58-2-2, 39 KOs) fought Bivol with an injured left wrist and he had shoulder problems. No wonder Canelo’s training camp didn’t go well for the match against Bivol.
What further compromises Canelo’s chances of winning with his plan to ramp up attack with singles, in hopes of knocking out Bivol.
That game plan worked for Canelo as he was battling to be the undisputed 168 against Rocky Fielding, Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders and Caleb Plant, but not with Bivol.
“Look, Canelo is great. Canelo is the face of the sport. He had a night off. Every boxer sometimes has a night off, and that’s it,” said promoter Richard Schaefer. NEWS about Canelo Alvarez’s loss to Dmitry Bivol last May.
“I believe Canelo has a lot going on in his personal life, and he’s not one to complain or make any excuses. That’s what a great warrior does.
“So a lot of people think, ‘Oh, he shouldn’t be fighting Bivol again. It’s too dangerous, and so on.’ Look, Bivol is great, don’t get me wrong, but Canelo is great too.
“Canelo will silence everyone. I know how motivated he is to these kinds of challenges. That’s what he lives for, those kinds of challenges, and we saw when he lost to Floyd Mayweather at a very young age. What did it do? It drives him, and it drives him to be the best boxer in the world.
Schaefer said of Canelo: “This unexpected loss is pushing him to new heights.
Canelo will fight in May against his WBO-mandated John Ryder in the UK.
Schaefer chose Benavidez over Plant
“Benavidez,” Schaefer said when asked who won the March match between former super middleweight champion David Benavidez and Caleb Plant.
“Look, both of these guys are great boxers, but I think Benavidez is one of the other talents of that generation, so I’m going to pick Benavidez,” Schaefer said.
