Canelo activated by Bivol Challenge

Weightlifting champion Canelo Alvarez said the ordeal of conquering WBA light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol made him ‘feel alive’.

Mexican star Canelo (57-1-2, 39 KOs) challenges Bivol (19-0, 11 KOs) for his 175lbs WBA title at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas this weekend, live on DAZN.

The previous undisputed super-middleweight champion, who won the world title at 175lbs, knocked out WBO champion Sergey Kovalev in a brutal bout in November 2019.

Bivol, who held his WBA title for four and a half years, was the last to compete with a unanimous decision victory over Umar Salamov in December 2021.

“When I work hard and give my best in the ring, I will fight well for the fans,” Canelo said. “Thanks everyone and see you on May 7.

“I don’t care, I like a challenge, it makes me feel alive – challenges for me in everything in life. I like a good challenge and now I have a very good fighter in front of me and I am very excited about this fight.

“Bivol is a really tough fighter and it will be a really good fight for Cinco de Mayo over the weekend with my guys in Las Vegas – Mexico over the weekend. I’m really excited and I’m going to prepare really well because this fight is going to be really tough.”