T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV, May 9 2022
TV: DAZN Pay-per-view
By Peter Lim
In a stunning shoo-in for Upset of the Year and leading candidate for Fight of the Year, Bivol wins a close but unanimous decision over Alvarez in a back-and-forth contest that alternates between strategic chess match and scintillating brawl. Both fighters are forced to dig deep into their brain and brawn to produce a pugilistic classic reminiscent of Duran-Leonard I in 1980.
Utilizing his size and speed, Bivol dictates the distance and tempo in the early stages with his signature fluid combinations of jabs and straight rights while bouncing in and out of range with springy footwork. But Alvarez gradually figures out his rhythm and timing and begins setting traps in which he walks the bigger man into vicious volleys of counter punches upstairs and down.
Just when it appears Alvarez has seized the momentum, it is Bivol's turn to make mid-fight adjustments to his game plan throwing Alvarez off by feinting before punching, allowing him to resume his early success from long range. More significantly, the Russian introduces the clean-up left hook to punctuate each combination, again forcing Alvarez to reconfigure his strategy.
Alvarez shifts into overdrive in the final quarter of the bout, applying suffocating pressure, taking the fight into the phone booth and relentlessly ripping away to the head and body with both fists. But he soon discovers that, at light heavyweight, his punches don't pack the same devastating effect against his previous smaller-framed opponents. Bivol proves sufficiently sturdy and competent in the trenches as he holds his ground, doggedly returns fire and refuses to let Alvarez impose his will.
As spirited as Alvarez's late surge is, it falls a tad short of overcoming the early deficit and Bivol is declared the victor by scores of 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113.
