Bivol saved utilizing his left hand anyway, spearing Álvarez with jabs to the physique and head. Ending five-punch mixtures by throwing left hooks additionally had an impact the statistics couldn’t measure. When Bivol would throw a punch, Álvarez would lean again, and Bivol’s fist would whistle previous his chin. The punches didn’t all the time land, however they put Álvarez out of counterpunching place, and allowed Bivol to re-establish his most popular vary.
“I used to be the counterpuncher at present,” Bivol mentioned.
Late within the bout, when earlier Álvarez opponents had pale, Bivol saved punching. In Spherical 11, he landed a jab, then a proper hand that despatched sweat flying from Álvarez’s head. In Spherical 12, one other stiff jab compelled Álvarez to retreat and regroup. He was respiration closely by then, drained after investing his vitality in energy punches that had not shocked Bivol.
“He threw solely laborious punches,” Bivol mentioned in English. “After laborious punches, he a bit bit drained. Drained, drained.”
The loss was Álvarez’s first since September 2013, when Floyd Mayweather Jr. beat him by choice, but it surely doesn’t essentially diminish him. Earlier than the struggle, Álvarez acknowledged Bivol can be a lot more durable than earlier opponents, and afterward he mentioned gaining weight to struggle as a lightweight heavyweight might need slowed him.
“I really feel proud. I bought out of my consolation zone,” Álvarez mentioned. “I don’t really feel ashamed as a result of I search for challenges that different folks don’t as a result of they’re scared to lose.”
From right here, Álvarez might invoke the rematch clause in his contract with Bivol or defend his titles at 168 kilos.
And two large obstacles stand between Bivol and fights for the undisputed light-heavyweight title.
First, Artur Beterbiev who holds the World Boxing Council and Worldwide Boxing Federation titles, and Joe Smith Jr., the World Boxing Group champion, are signed to High Rank. A take care of both of them requires cooperation between promoters that occurs solely sparingly on this sport. Álvarez, in distinction, has yet another bout on his short-term contract with DAZN and Matchroom.
Second, an Álvarez rematch pays him higher, particularly now that Bivol has the one credential he didn’t have heading into Saturday’s bout: a win over the largest identify in boxing.
