Eddie Hearn Says Canelo Alvarez Will Face Dmitry Bivol For Undisputed Titles At 168lbs This Year

Eddie Hearn confirms Canelo Alvarez will rematch Dmitry Bivol this year.

Since Alvarez lost a decision to Bivol last year, he has been vocal in saying he wants the rematch at light heavyweight again. However, Hearn made a surprise announcement when he said the rematch would happen this year would be happen at 168lbs as Bivol would drop in weight to try and become the undisputed champion.

“Canelo Alvarez in an ideal world for us will return in May with — I think it’s disrespectful to call it a comeback fight — and I believe he will fight his mandatory challenger, which is John Ryder, the interim world champion,” Hearn told iFL TV (via BoxingScene). “That fight can take place in America, could be UK, could be Middle East.

“And then I’m gonna put my neck on the line and say that Canelo Alvarez will fight Bivol for the undisputed championship at 168,” Hearn continued. “There’s a lot of work to be done but Dmitry Bivol is up for the challenge. Dmitry Bivol is about legacy. He has a chance if he beats Canelo Alvarez to then fight Beterbiev in his next fight for the undisputed at 175.”

As of right now, it is expected Alvarez will face John Ryder next in a tune-up fight before the rematch with Bivol.

Canelo Alvarez (58-2-2) is coming off a decision win over Gennady Golovkin to return to the win column after a decision loss to Bivol. His other loss came earlier in his career to Floyd Mayweather.

Dmitry Bivol (21-0) defended his WBA super light heavyweight title back in November with a decision win over Gilberto Ramirez. In his career, he also holds notable wins over Lenin Castillo, Joe Smith Jr., Jean Pascal, and Cedric Agnew among others.

Do you think we see Canelo Alvarez vs. Dmitry Bivol at 168?