Bivol Coach Reveals Why Canelo's Mental Game Failed In A Duel Against His Protégé

Canelo Alvarez when defeated by Dmitry Bivol (Instagram @matchroomboxing)

JAKARTA - Canelo Alvarez always uses mental play before facing his opponent, says Joel Diaz, coach of Dmitry Bivol.

"Some time before, Dmitry approached me and told me that he didn't believe the fight was going to happen," Diaz said in an interview with the YouTube channel ESNEWS quoted by Marca, Tuesday, August 9.

"I told him to get ready, that I know very well Canelo has put him on the list and started training. That he has set goals and that way we get two weeks of preparation before the official announcement."

On May 7 last in Las Vegas, Bivol won on points over Canelo, and the jury's decision was a triple 115-113, so there is no doubt about the Russian boxer's victory over the Mexican boxer.

Diaz highlighted that the key to victory was the strategy they used to approach the fight and admitted he was afraid that at some point the fall of Bivol could change the jury's decision, but that didn't happen.

"The strategy we came up with for him was to outbox him and use his jab to go and play Canelo's game," Diaz commented.

"Every knockdown would be an excuse to give Canelo a win. He dominated the fight and they made him lose in the first four rounds which I think is stupid."

Now, Canelo prefers a rematch against Gennady Golovkin rather than against Bivol.

"I honestly don't know what the future holds," Diaz said.

"Bivol did very well, Canelo has the option of a rematch, but he would rather turn things around. I say once and for all, if they fight at 168, Bivol beat Canelo too."