Has anyone even watched Bivol before?

Beautiful boxing from Bivol, guy was on point on both defense and offense. He has amazing ring awareness at all times. Canelo looked one dimensional just chucking wild hayemakers dumbfounded they wouldn’t land.

Thinking on it more, the big thing, Bivol DID NOT respect Canelo and did not put him on a pedestal like Kovalev and others did. Bivol was not afraid to unload combos on Canelo and knew that Canelo cannot seriously hurt him too bad... he is not a power puncher like Smith Jr and others.

Biv's opponents didn't interest me.

I don't necessarily agree. I think he was more intense in his approach. In his last fight, he was content to just do 1 - 2 with occasional left hook, but in this fight he had more variety in his offense, even threw uppercuts there. It was similar performance as against Sullivan Barrera and that was in 2018. I agree the best version of Bivol showed up tonight. I'm just saying that tonight's performance, although excellent by any measure, wasn't some aberration.

I don't necessarily agree. I think he was more intense in his approach. In his last fight, he was content to just do 1 - 2 with occasional left hook, but in this fight he had more variety in his offense, even threw uppercuts there. It was similar performance as against Sullivan Barrera and that was in 2018.

I agree with you that this wasn't some version of Bivol that nobody had ever witnessed before or that he had to go to some deep place to win this. He won pretty comprehensively from start to finish and if anything was picking up steam and gaining confidence as the fight went along. Even though I picked Canelo by close decision, I feel kinda vindicated because I've been pushing Bivol since I first watched him coming up on Povetkin and Lebedev undercards in Russia Isn't it funny that Joe Smith Jr. picked up and body slammed Bivol, and Canelo very nearly did the exact same thing tonight? Is his skill and precision just that frustrating?

Oh, he was definitely on his A game. I agree with you there, but I just don't think he had to dig as deep as some on the DAZN team were suggesting. It looked like pretty easy work to me. I agree with you that this wasn't some version of Bivol that nobody had ever witnessed before or that he had to go to some deep place to win this. He won pretty comprehensively from start to finish and if anything was picking up steam and gaining confidence as the fight went along. Even though I picked Canelo by close decision, I feel kinda vindicated because I've been pushing Bivol since I first watched him coming up on Povetkin and Lebedev undercards in Russia

Not really, this was easier than Joe Smith for Bivol. Been watching Bivol for years. You do realize this is a boxing forum irght lmao?? I don't understand your response at all.

Craig Richards gave Bivol a harder fight lol Craig Richards thought he won his fight with Bivol (he was counting on that home cooking. you can see it when they read the scores).

Joe Smith jr. gave Bivol much harder fight. Craig Richards gave Bivol a harder fight lol

Joe Smith jr. gave Bivol much harder fight. Yes, he did. He landed that bomb at the bell late in their fight that had Bivol shaken for the whole next round. He was buzzed big time by Joe.

Joe Smith jr. gave Bivol much harder fight.

This was surely one of Bivol's EASIER fights... and you could see it after the first round, he saw Canelo is just a short wide midget that cracks no harder than Joe smith Jr.... so then all Bivol had to do is execute.... and he did.

I mean, he did have the performance of his life, but I understand what you are saying too. But the stakes were never higher for him than they were tonight, and he showed up.

I have seen all his championship fights. I am not surprised at all. he beat ginger so bad that they couldn`t rob him.

Not quite sure I agree. Bivol was on his A game tonight, I don't think it was some crazy performance, but he was obviously motivated. We've seen him sleepwalk a bit against guys he was a heavy favorite against, ie Castillo and Spider Richards. But yes, this looked like the guy that took apart Barrera and Smith. Exceptionally SMART performance from Bivol tonight, kudos to him Oh, he was definitely on his A game. I agree with you there, but I just don't think he had to dig as deep as some on the DAZN team were suggesting. It looked like pretty easy work to me.

These commentators were going on that Bivol had the performance of his life, etc. In actuality, however, he showed up and did exactly what he always does. This wasn't an exceptional Bivol performance, it was a typical Bivol performance. The man is never in trouble, never rattled. I've said many times on this forum that Bivol is the best pure boxer on the planet, and he showed it again tonight. The sweet science is always on full display with Dmitry Bivol. Not quite sure I agree. Bivol was on his A game tonight, I don't think it was some crazy performance, but he was obviously motivated. We've seen him sleepwalk a bit against guys he was a heavy favorite against, ie Castillo and Spider Richards. But yes, this looked like the guy that took apart Barrera and Smith. Exceptionally SMART performance from Bivol tonight, kudos to him