Andrey Ryabinskiy, promoter for WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, believes his boxer could be even better and has not hit his athletic peak.

Last Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Bivol off a major upset when he outboxed Mexican superstar Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez to secure a twelve round unanimous decision. All three judges had it 115-113 for Bivol.

The 31-year-old Russian fighter was widely overlooked in the contest, with many observers already looking ahead to Canelo's planned trilogy fight with Gennadiy Golovkin in September.

The outcome marked the second defeat of Canelo's career, with Floyd Mayweather Jr. dominating Canelo to a decision win in 2013.

While Canelo is now mulling the scenario of a rematch and promises to come back as a better fighter - Ryabinskiy cautions that Bivol will also be better the second time around.

"We have definitely seen one of the greatest fights from Dmitry, but to say it was the best would mean to devalue his abilities and his ambitions. I do believe his best is still ahead," Ryabinskiy told Sky Sports.

"I'd say the preparation process will take at least from four to five months. And the place for the fight is still to be decided, but most likely it will be in the US."

While Canelo has the option of exercising an immediate rematch clause, there is no guarantee that a second fight will happen in the fall. The Mexican fighter still has the option of moving forward with the third bout with Golovkin, and then pursue revenge against Bivol in 2023.