Canelo: I Want The Rematch, I’m Going To Come Back Stronger!

Mexican superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez was a 5-1 favorite, but he didn’t look like it in the ring on Saturday night – after being soundly outboxed by WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol.

The vast majority of the crowd at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena was cheering on Canelo, who suffered his first defeat since 2013. The outcome marked the second loss on Canelo’s record.

Bivol, 31-years-old and champion since 2016, raised his undefeated record to 20-0.

All three judges scored the fight 115-113 in Bivol’s favor.

There is a rematch clause, which Canelo wants to exercise.

He was scheduled to face Gennadiy Golovkin in a trilogy fight in September, but now he might face Bivol in a second fight instead.

“You have to accept it [the loss], it’s boxing,” Canelo said. “He’s a great champion. Sometimes in boxing you win and lose and I’m not giving excuses. I lost and he won. Yeah, of course I [want the rematch]. This doesn’t end like this.”

Bivol, who was widely overlooked by most observers, is very willing to do a rematch – but he wants to be respected like a champion in the second outing.

“Let’s talk about a rematch. I wanted this fight because I wanted to get the opportunity and I appreciate this opportunity. I’m ready for a rematch, I just want to be treated as the champion now,” Bivol said.

Canelo, the undisputed champion at super middleweight, was fighting at light heavyweight for the second time in his career. He wants to continue fighting for years to come and vowed to redeem himself in his next bout.

“I’m a very competitive person. I’ve got many years ahead of me,” Canelo said. “And I’m going to come back stronger.”