By Sean Jones: Victor Ortiz believes that Canelo Alvarez is an easy fight for Dmitry Bivol to take if the two meet up next year in a rematch. Ortiz predicts that Bivol will beat Canelo again when/if they fight again because he’s got the size advantage.
Former WBC welterweight champion Ortiz suggests that Canelo should “stay in your lane” and forget about fighting WBA light heavyweight champion Bivol (21-0 11 KOs) a second time because he’s “too small” to compete with him at 175.
Also, Ortiz sees no point in Bivol moving down to 168 for the rematch with Canelo because he’s the champion, and he shouldn’t have to go down in weight for the second fight if were to take place. Canelo is the one that needs to avenge the loss, not Bivol.
Some would say that the main reason Canelo ventured up to 175 in the first place to challenge Bivol for his WBA title is that he needed an excuse to swerve his WBC 168-lb mandatory David Benavidez and WBA ‘regular’ champion David Morrell.
There’s been growing pressure for Canelo to fight both of those guys from boxing fans, and long as he’s competing at super middleweight, people will be pushing for the Mexican star to face those two young killers. Morrell is 24, and Benavidez 25.
Those two young lions are ready to rip the belts away from Canelo and take control of the pride of other lions in the 168-lb division.
So if one wants to know why Canelo chose to go up to 175 and risk his hide against Bivol, a good reason is likely for him to have an excuse to avoid getting torn apart by Benavidez and Morrell.
“I personally had never seen Zurdo Ramirez fight, but it didn’t take for me to see any of that fighting style to take place,” said Victor Ortiz to Fight Hub TV.
“I believe Bivol will do it again against Canelo. In that case, I called that fight as well. People get it twisted. I don’t do a biased opinion. It’s boxing for me. It’s a sport.
“Two different weight classes, two different people that don’t. First of all, Bivol fights in his weight class. Canelo is smaller than me. He don’t have no business in that weight class. Is he a 160-pounder? Yeah, but come on, man. You’ve got to stay in your lane. That’s what I believe.
“I feel that Bivol is awesome. Whatever he chooses to do. If he wants an easier fight, then I think Canelo. Absolutely,” said Ortiz when asked if Canelo is an easier fight for Bivol than someone else.
“168? Like I said, Bivol doesn’t need to come down to 168. That’s Bivol’s weight class [175]; he’s the champ, and if you want to beat the champ, come up to the champ.
“I told the nephews that I strongly believe that Bivol has a technicality in boxing that’s not super aggressive, but it’s just right, and it’s defensive, offensive, and he’s a good fighter.
“I didn’t see Zurdo Ramirez beat him at all. I saw the fight, but I couldn’t see it. I told the nephews that I believe Zurdo is in for a rough night, and you’re more than likely to get a loss, and that’s it,” said Ortiz.
