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Canelo Alvarez, Dmitry Bivol keep it respectful at Thursday's final press conference
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“I like this kind of challenge because I just want to make history. This kind of challenge is going to put me at the top in the history of boxing. I feel alive when I have this kind of challenge. I respect the boxing skill of Dmitry Bivol, but it’s my time. I feel in my prime, and I enjoy this kind of moment.
“I’m really glad that I’ve got my opportunity," Bivol added. "I’ve asked my team for many years, I want to fight the best guys, and now I’ve got this fight. I’m focused on the fight now. I hope we’ll make a great fight for boxing fans. I believe in me. I’ve had a long journey to this moment, and now I have to do my job."
This is Alvarez's (57-1-2, 39 KO) second trek up to 175 pounds. After stopping Sergey Kovalev to win the WBO belt in November 2019, Alvarez became the undisputed super-middleweight champion, culminating in stopping Caleb Plant last November to win all four belts. Now, a new challenge awaits boxing's pound-for-pound king, which gets Alvarez excited about facing Bivol.
“I beat all the champions at 168, so for now, I’m ok at that weight,” Alvarez said. “I need to take other challenges for myself, not just for my history, but I need to feel that kind of challenge. To go up to 175, have the opportunity to win another title, it’s amazing for me.”
Ahead of Saturday's WBA (super) light heavyweight title clash from T-Mobile Arena, the challenger and champion were respectful of each other's accomplishments.
“He’s a really good champion, a really good fighter," Alvarez said. "We know that. He has a lot of skills, a lot of amateur experience. He’s a solid champion at 175. But I know, and I’m ready. I believe in my skills, and I’m very confident with how strong I am.
Bivol (19-0, 11 KOs) looks to make his seventh consecutive title defense against by far his sternest opponent. Alvarez is the guy he's wanted since becoming a world champion, and the time has now come.
“I’m really glad that I’ve got my opportunity," Bivol said. "I’ve asked my team for many years, I want to fight the best guys, and now I’ve got this fight. I’m focused on the fight now. I hope we’ll make a great fight for boxing fans. I believe in me. I’ve had a long journey to this moment, and now I have to do my job.
“To be honest, every time I come to the ring, I believe in my victory. If you don’t believe in what you do, you’ll never win. I believe in my victory. Why not? I’ve been in boxing since I was five years old. When I was 16, I was a two-time amateur world champion. Now, I have a belt. I have 19 fights. I’m the champion. Why not?”
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