“That Was a Matchmaking Mistake”: American News Anchor Remains Brutally Honest While Talking About Canelo Alvarez’s Loss to Dmitry Bivol

Published 09/26/2023, 1:53 PM EDT

Canelo Alvarez fought Dmitry Bivol on May 7, 2022, for the WBA (super) light heavyweight title. The match took place at T-Mobile Arena in Nevada. Bivol won by unanimous decision, scoring 115-113 on all cards. Before this, Canelo aimed to fight the WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Makabu, but the match fell through. However, Bivol dominated Canelo in punches, accuracy, and defense and thus emerged victorious.

Canelo’s loss to Dmitry Bivol puzzled fans and experts. With everyone wondering what happened, recently, Hall of Famer Jim Lampley, who is also a renowned News Anchor, has offered his blunt insights into the fight. In a recent interview with Fight Hub, he shared his detailed view. Moreover, his viewpoint focuses on how the whole idea of the bout was fallible.

Was the loss of Canelo Alvarez over Bivol really a match-making error?

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In the interview, Lampley pulled no punches about Canelo Alvarez’s loss to Dmitry Bivol. He called it not just a bad day for Canelo, but a tactical error. According to him, the match setup doomed Canelo from the start. Lampley suggested two possibilities for Canelo’s poor showing- Either Canelo is declining, or the match was poorly planned. As he said, “He won the Ryder fight as expected, but some critics felt that the old Canelo would have easily defeated Ryder. I think that was a matchmaking mistake. Just because he defeated Kovalev doesn’t mean he can handle another Russian light heavyweight.

Furthermore, he argued that Bivol, being “longer, more athletic, and a better boxer,” had the upper hand. Then, he elaborated his viewpoint about how it was a clear win for Dmitry. Lampley opined, “It was a clear win for his opponent, and I believe that can be called a matchmaking error… Canelo has been Mexico’s number-one fighter for a long time, and when you hold that title, you represent the largest and most passionate boxing fan base in the world. You’re also exposed to every privilege known to man.”

Despite umpteen speculations about Cinnamon’s off-form in the fight, he still remains in denial about his deserved defeat.

‘Cinnamon’ believes he deserved to win

Canelo Alvarez recently denied that his loss to Dmitry Bivol was deserved, calling it his career’s worst defeat. He claimed that he was the “better” fighter and blamed injuries for the loss. He mentioned a hand and rib injury a week before the fight. Despite this, Canelo has skipped three chances for a rematch with Bivol.

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However, Canelo has shunned all the critics as he’s now focusing on the fight with Jermell Charlo on September 30th. On the other hand, fans and critics speculate that Canelo is avoiding Bivol out of fear. Furthermore, according to some, another loss to Bivol could break the trust of Canelo’s loyal fans who believe his injury excuses.

Jim Lampley’s brutally honest take on Canelo Alvarez’s loss to Dmitry Bivol serves as a wake-up call for both fans and the boxing community. It’s not just about the punches and the rounds; it’s about the strategy, the matchmaking, and the legacy. As Canelo prepares for his next big fight, one can’t help but wonder if lessons have been learned.

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So, what do you think? Was Canelo’s loss to Bivol a matchmaking mistake or a sign of decline? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Written by:

Tanya Tewari is a Boxing Writer at Essentially Sports. She has beautifully blended her love for the combat sport with her fondness for writing. She is especially interested in bringing out the different sides of a persona to the rest of the world.

Edited by:

Gokul Pillai

“That Was a Matchmaking Mistake”: American News Anchor Remains Brutally Honest While Talking About Canelo Alvarez’s Loss to Dmitry Bivol

Was the loss of Canelo Alvarez over Bivol really a match-making error?

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‘Cinnamon’ believes he deserved to win