Canelo Alvarez on rematch with Dmitry Bivol: 'I know I can win'

Julio Cesar Chavez is among those who have suggested that Canelo Alvarez think twice before fighting Dmitry Bivol again.

Alvarez took his legendary countryman’s opinion in stride and then dismissed it, indicating as clearly as possible that he’ll avenge his unanimous-decision loss to the Russian now that he’s 100% healthy.

And the 168-pound champion confirmed that the rematch would take place at the same weight as the first fight, 175 pounds.

“My respect for Chavez,” Alvarez said in an interview with La Saga that was translated by Izquierdazo. “I will always respect him. The champion knows that, but in the end, it’s not a matter of what he wants.”

Alvarez said he fought Bivol in May with an injured left wrist, which limited his ability to train properly. He also faced rival Gennadiy Golovkin with the injury in September and then had surgery to repair it.

He expects to fight next in May of next year, when he’s likely to face a transitional opponent. He could then meet Bivol again in September.

“That is something I want to do, and I know I can win, because I know how I went to that fight, I know what I can do, and what I will do,” Alvarez said of the Bivol rematch. “I couldn’t make things properly, because I didn’t train as I had to. Because of my [injured] hand and all that”.

He went on: “I lacked one or two rounds to win. I was highly competitive. Since I couldn’t have a proper training camp, I won the first rounds and then began to get tired. At the end, I’m sure I didn’t give my 100%, and he did. He can’t give anything more, and I can.”

That’s why Alvarez is confident he can turn the tables on his conqueror.

“Of course I can win,” he said. “It’s not a matter of belief, it’s because I know I can. That is my priority now”.

All three judges had the same score in the first Bivol-Alvarez fight, 115-113. Most observers had Bivol winning by a wider margin. Boxing Junkie scored it 117-111, nine rounds to three.