The holder of the WBA Super light heavyweight title (up to 79.4 kg) Russian Dmitry Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) gave
interview for a news portal from the USA.
In a conversation, the “super champion” spoke about his fight against the Mexican Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs) who had risen to the division above the absolute champion of the second middleweight (up to 76.2 kg). Recall that Dmitry defeated the star Mexican by unanimous decision with a slight margin on points in May of this year, although he dominated in almost all rounds.
Was the Canelo fight easier than you thought, or was it more difficult in certain ways because of the pressure?
“I think the fight was what I expected. It was not a big surprise for me, because when I came to the arena, a lot of people supported Canelo. And during the fight, I thought that he would use a lot of defensive moves, head movements. And he used them well. I missed with many shots. But everything was fine.
“But when you entered the ring, it was probably the biggest crowd in your memory, and then he came out with his fashionable exit through the smoke and all this music. You didn’t look around and think, “God, this is serious business?” Were you really nervous?
No, I was just setting myself up. Because I just went into the ring to fight. He went into the ring to celebrate something, to make a fashion statement.
— Yes, to celebrate the moment, Cinco de Mayo.
“I only thought about the duel, not about fashionable things.
– Dmitry, was there a special round when you said: “OK, this is my night?”
“After the first 30 seconds, I thought anything was possible. I felt it well, I knew what to do to win. I thought it would be hard to be focused all 12 rounds, but I thought that I should do it.
“I thought you won quite skillfully. When the ring announcer announced that all the judges had counted 115-113, what was your reaction? Before your name was announced?
“A second before he said, “And yet…,” I thought maybe the fight would go the other way. It was only for a second. And then he said, “And yet…”
Was it relief or joy?
— Of course, at first I exhaled, and then rejoiced.
Dmitry, did your life change after this fight?
“My life has changed a lot. I feel like I have changed a little inside. I felt it more after the fight with Zurdo Ramirez. After the fight with him, I thought that everything was easier, much easier than before the fight with Canelo. I thought that Canelo is a good strong fighter, a really big star, because every fight he fights is like that. I only had one fight at this level, and I had a good fight.
- Bivol replied to Canelo: “It’s a category, it’s a camp, it’s a hand…”
– It looks like you are a little annoyed by the fact that fighters are constantly talking about sparring, telling how well they boxed with you in sparring.
— You know, each of my sparring partners had success in sparring with me. Each. Ask everyone who sparred with me. If someone says that he had success in sparring with me, I will say: “Yes, of course I did.” Because sparring is not a fight for me. This is different. This is practice. In some sparring sessions, I just want to throw a lot of jabs, not use my right hand. In some sparring sessions, I just try to go forward. I’m just practicing. Sometimes I get it, and sometimes I don’t.
– Here’s what I find interesting – the first round began and you immediately became in the center of the ring. You didn’t back down, you just staked your feet and said, “Come on, come at me!” Do you think it surprised him?
Maybe it was a surprise for him. Because he said that I was running away from him and something else. It was funny. But now I’m here, let’s fight. But it’s different because the fight has different strategies. My strategy with him was to go forward, constantly press.
“Here’s what I’ve noticed: you seem to be boxing with more confidence after the Canelo fight. Do you agree with this?
– Yes. I agree a little. First of all, my confidence depends on my training camps. If I had a good training camp, then I’m sure. But in the fight with Canelo, I went through a lot of pressure. Media pressure, political pressure, everything. I feel like I’ve matured a bit. But my confidence is 90% based on training camps.
Dimitri, Canelo said he wants a rematch. What do you think about it?
– I said earlier that we can discuss a rematch. No problem. I’ve talked to my manager, I’ve talked to my promoter, I prefer to go ahead and fight for other belts. But of course it’s not such a bad fight to fight Canelo again. But if I have to choose, then I prefer to fight for another championship title.
— It means Artur Beterbiev. Thus, you want to make it clear that if the choice were yours, then there would be the first Beterbiev. This is your priority.
“It’s not about names. It’s about the belts. Today it is Beterbiev, tomorrow it may be Yard or someone else.
- “We’ll fix it.” Arum outlined the timing of the organization of the fight Bivol – Beterbiev
– Is your goal to become absolute at 79.4 kg?
– Of course, every good professional boxer wants to become an absolute champion.
Well, if Canelo brings in a lot more money than belts, which is more important to you?
Belts are more important because with belts I can make more money. [смеются]. Of course, I love money, but if I only think about money, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Because I took a lot of fights where I didn’t make a lot of money. I just took the fight because I needed to.