Canelo Alvarez Already Envisioning Dmitry Bivol Rematch Ahead of Next Fight

Canelo Alvarez will again take center stage on Saturday with the Mexican superstar set to return to his home country to defend his undisputed super middleweight championship against John Ryder. Given the stakes, all eyes will be focused on the anticipated upcoming fight, although Alvarez made it clear this week he already has his eyes locked in on a different goal.

Alvarez, the reigning WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF super middleweight champion, announced he plans to set up a rematch against Dmitry Bivol in the coming months following his bout with Ryder. The May 6 contest–Alvarez’s first in Mexico in over a decade—will take place nearly a year after Bivol (21–0, 11 KOs) successfully defended his WBA light heavyweight title in an upset unanimous decision win over Alvarez (58–2–2, 39 KOs) at 175 pounds. 

“I want the same terms, the same everything as the last fight,” Alvarez told ESPN on Thursday. “But right now, I’m focused 100% on John Ryder because he’s boxing, and you never know. But the goal is to have the rematch with Bivol in the same terms.”

Alvarez, a natural 168-pound fighter, moved up a weight class to fight Bivol last May, a decision that’s been cited as a key reason behind his loss. Now, Alvarez said he’s in a better position to prove he can beat Bivol, noting his improved wellbeing due to his conditioning and a procedure he underwent in October to repair a left wrist injury he endured for two years.

“I think I’m better than him—that’s it,” he continued. “If you see the first five rounds, six rounds, I dominate the fight. But then I get tired, of course, because I don’t train at my 100%.”

While Alvarez clearly sounds motivated for a rematch, Bivol, who last fought on Nov. 5, expressed recently his interest would be determined by one thing. Despite never fighting below 173 pounds, the Russian fighter told ESPN he’s only interested in facing Alvarez in a 168-pound bout with his undisputed titles on the line.

As it stands, the door appears to be open on Alvarez-Bivol II, and with the undisputed champion penciled in for another fight on Sept. 16, the stars could align on an agreement. Of course, Saturday’s fight in Mexico could carry major implications on such a fight if Alvarez falls, although the 32-year-old seems as motivated as ever to maintain his spot on top.

“I’m the best fighter out there,” Álvarez told Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix in a recent interview. “I lost to the best fighter at 175-pounds [Bivol]. I tried to [make] history. I tried to do things differently than other fighters. It’s not easy but I like challenges. I feel good. I feel in my prime. And you’re going to see.”