Dubai also considered for Canelo-Bivol
Canelo Alvarez, the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, has long been thinking about fighting outside of the Americas, and it’s likely to be next May 7 against Dmitry Bivol when it happens, as Dubai is a solid option.
Until a few days ago, the city of Las Vegas and specifically the T-Mobile Arena were being considered over any other venue, however, the possibility of going to the United Arab Emirates for this fight for the World Boxing Association semi-complete championship came up.
Canelo is currently the top attraction in world boxing and his name has long been linked to venues outside the United States and Mexico. Places like Japan, England, the Middle East and some other nations had been previously named by promoter Eddie Hearn, head of Matchroom Boxing, the company with which Canelo will work again for this fight against Bivol.
“By far, [Canelo] is the top attraction in America, probably the rest of the world as well. I would love to see him in equally big things, in the UK, in Japan, in China, in the Middle East, all these territories because he is a tremendous boxer.”
Hearn has already had experience making it work in the Middle East, as evidenced by the rematch there between Britain’s Andy Ruiz and Anthony Joshua in December 2019 that ended up being a success. Joshua got revenge in that fight and regained the belts he had lost in the Heavyweight division.
Canelo has 21 consecutive fights in U.S. territory, where he has been consecrated in popularity and achievements in the ring. Just in 2021, he set an attendance record for a world championship fight in a closed arena by summoning 73,126 fans, surpassing by almost 10,000 a record that belonged to Muhammad Ali since 1978.
Bivol, who made his debut in 2014 in Russian territory, has also fought on American soil, Great Britain and Monaco; however, he has not appeared as a professional in the Middle East and this would also be his first time in the United Arab Emirates. This Wednesday, Canelo Alvarez and Dmitry Bivol will have, in San Diego, their first face to face en route to their important date in the ring.
