Canelo already has a rival for May: it is a Russian 0:19
(CNN Spanish) --
After beating Caleb Plant in November 2021, Mexican boxer Saúl "Canelo" Álvarez will return to the ring this year to face Russian Dmitry Bivol.
Russia-Ukraine War: Breaking News and Negotiations and Invasion
"Canelo" Álvarez himself confirmed the fight against Bivol on February 25 on his Twitter account.
However, there are doubts about whether the fight can take place, as it occurs in a context where there are widespread sanctions against Russia, from economic to sports, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine that began last week.
Usyk, ready to die for Ukraine.
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What do we know about the fight "Canelo" vs.
Bivol?
On Friday, February 25, "Canelo" said that his next fight would take place next Saturday, May 7, against the Russian boxer "Dmitry Bivol for the WBA World Championship at 175 lbs.
Just one day earlier, on February 24, Russia began an invasion of Ukraine;
Until this Wednesday, the war on Ukrainian territory continues.
Also on February 25, the World Boxing Association (WBA) announced the fight between "Canelo" and Bivol without mentioning the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Three days later, on February 28, the WBA announced measures "in its support of peace and the cessation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine", among which the exclusion of fighters from Russia and Belarus from the rankings of the organization (except current champions like Bivol, who is the reigning WBA light heavyweight super champion), and the disallowance of world and regional bouts in Russia.
Likewise, the WBA prohibited "the participation of Russian and Belarusian officials in world and/or regional championship fights," adding that "Russian fighters will not be able to enter the ring with their flag, their anthem will not be played, and the country will not be named." .
It should be noted that the WBA is the boxing organization to which the championship that "Canelo" and Bivol will play belongs to.
Taking into account its measurements, the fight between the Mexican and the Russian could be carried out, with the detail that it cannot be carried out in Russia.
The fight could be called off, according to WBA officials, if Bivol were a Russian official.
On March 1, three other boxing organizations spoke out about the situation in Ukraine.
The World Boxing Council (WBC), the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and the International Boxing Federation (IBF) said they would not certify "any championship fight involving boxers from Russia and Belarus" until a solution to the issue was found. conflict.
Understanding that the championship that "Canelo" and Bivol will dispute belongs to the WBA, these latest measures would not affect their fight on May 7.
Until now, the WBA has not given specific details about the conduct or suspension of the fight "Canelo vs. Bivol.
Dmitry BivolWar in UkraineSaúl 'Canelo' Álvarez