Mexican trainer helped Bivol to beat Canelo
By unanimous decision, the Mexican could not defeat Bivol in his fight to dominate the 175 pounds. In addition to this, it came to light that a former Mexican boxing world champion helped Dmitry to defeat Canelo: Joel Diaz.
Through the podcast Un Round Más, the Mexican admitted that he influenced Bivol’s sparring as part of his preparation. “There came a point and we would tell him ‘hit the sparring partners you’re paying them: you’re paying $500 to a morro a day.’ He would say ‘I don’t like to be like that, I don’t like to take advantage, I know I can hurt them, but it’s okay.’ If he let go, he would hurt them, but then they would back off,” he admitted.
Who is Joel Diaz, the Mexican trainer who helped Dimitry Bivol prepare for his fight against Canelo Alvarez?
Since he was 12 years old, he settled in California, United States. Unfortunately, he had to cut short his career as a fighter after a detached retina.
Despite this, he continued his step in professional boxing by becoming a trainer of figures such as Timothy Bradley, the same who defeated Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao.
“When Bivol came to my camp two months ago we started training and he included me in the team. I told him I would try to hit him in his arm like he did with Callum Smith, that’s why I was icing him round by round.”