LAS VEGAS (UNITED STATES), 8 May. (dpa/EP) –
The Mexican boxer Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez has lost the fight for the light heavyweight title of the World Boxing Association (WBA) by unanimous decision by points against the Russian Dmitry Bivol, who has managed to retain his belt and endorse his rival the second loss of his career.
Álvarez moved up a division to the heaviest weight of his career to endure 12 rounds at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (United States) against the Russian, who became the only person, along with American Floyd Mayweather, to beat the boxer 31 years old.
Bivol landed cleaner, harder punches throughout the night. After three tight opening rounds, the Kyrgyzstan-born boxer leaned on him to shake ‘Canelo’, keeping him at bay for the rest of the match. All three judges offered a score of 115-113 in favor of Bivol (20-0, 11 KOs).
Alvarez, whose last loss was a majority decision against Mayweather in 2013, said he “of course” wanted a rematch after the loss. “This doesn’t end like this,” he added.
The loss comes after the Mexican (57-2-2, 39 KOs) became the first undisputed super middleweight world champion with a win over American Caleb Plant in November.