Chris Algieri thinks Canelo Alvarez would have a better chance against Artur Beterbiev than Dmitry Bivol if he moves up to 175.
Algeria feels the slow pace of 39-year-old Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) suits Canelo (62-2-2, 39 KOs). Note that Beterbiev doesn’t throw many punches. Slower fighters are what Canelo does well against today, and Beterbiev could be ideal for him.
Algieri still believes Beterbiev will defeat Canelo, who was hit hard in his last fight against light heavyweight Edgar Berlanga, who reportedly rehydrated to 193 pounds for their Sept. 14 clash.
Canelo did not specifically mention that he wanted to move up to 175 to fight Beterbiev. The guy he was interested in fighting was former WBA light heavyweight champion Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs), but that was before he lost last Saturday against Beterbiev by a 12-majority decision in Riyadh .
Bivol is now without a belt, coming up big, and looking at a potential second defeat if he goes through with his promoter Eddie Hearn’s plans for a Beterbiev rematch.
Although many fans believe that Bivol deserved the win, Beterbiev seemed to have his style well figured out after the sixth round and took complete control from that point on. In a rematch, it’s obvious that Beterbiev will hit Bivol like a rocket, knowing that he can’t handle the constant pressure and it will blow him up immediately.
“It gives Canelo a better shot against Beterbiev because of the pace. Beterbiev is fighting at a pretty slow clip these days. The fight we saw last night,” Chris Algieri told Inside boxingsaying Canelo Alvarez has a better chance against Artur Beterbiev at 175 than he would in a rematch with Dmitry Bivol.
I do not agree at all with Algiers. Canelo will do no better against Beterbiev than Bivol. He will do worse because he will be stationary, and Beterbiev will beat him against the ropes. The worst thing that Canelo can fear against Bivol is that he is upset like last time and is hit with some combinations. Being stationary against Beterbiev will result in Canelo’s elimination. He would be a smaller version of Callum Smith.
“He doesn’t throw a ton of punches and he’s not that active. Il avait l’habitue de donner un rythme aux hommes,” said Algieri about Beterbiev. “He used to put so much pressure. It started out slow, but then it really picked up. At a slower pace, Canelo is really good at it. His defense is pretty good, and his counter-punching.
Beterbiev fought at a high pace in his fight earlier this year in January against Callum Smith. Against Bivol, he fought slower because he was afraid of getting hit with his constant counters and jabs. If Beterbiev hadn’t shown Bivol so much respect in the beginning, he would have KO’d him.
“He’s got your respect. He’s got a good jab, Canelo. He’s got a very underrated jab, I think. So, I’ll give him a better shot. I still don’t think he beats him (Beterbiev). I think Beterbiev beats Canelo too. Stay in your weight class, Canelo. We don’t have to go to 175,” said Algeri.
