Canelo Alvarez vs. Dmitry Bivol: Betting Odds, Preview Of Championship Fight

Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez, arguably the sport's biggest draw, faces his first opponent of 2022 on Saturday in Las Vegas. The odds are slim that Russian Dmitry Bivol, the WBA super light heavyweight champion, will present a serious challenge to Alvarez on Cinco de Mayo Weekend.

Alvarez, who is on a 16-fight unbeaten streak, is a -475 favorite at DraftKing Sportsbook in the title fight at T-Mobile Arena. Bivol has +350 odds to pull off the upset.

While Bivol is a decided underdog, he’s given a better chance to win than Alvarez’s most recent opponents. Prior to suffering an 11th-round TKO in November, Caleb Plant was given +600 odds to beat Alvarez. One year ago, Billy Joe Saunders was around a +500 underdog against Alvarez for a bout that was stopped after the eighth round.

There is a strong chance that ringside judges will decide the winner. Alvarez and Bivol have -230 odds to go the distance.

The most likely scenario is an Alvarez victory by decision, which is given -140 odds. Bivol has +800 odds to become the first boxer to defeat Alvarez by knockout. The odds of a draw are +1800.

The only loss on Alvarez’s resume came against Floyd Mayweather on Sept. 14, 2013. Alvarez was 23 years old at the time, while Mayweather was in his prime.

“Of course he has a good power, he has a good skills, but most of people think about him like he’s untouchable or he’s unstoppable, or he has enough power to beat super heavyweights," Bivol told Marcos Villegas of Fight Hub TV last month. "Sometimes it’s funny to hear about him from people. First of all, he’s a good fighter but he’s a man and he had a loss and draw — it means if you believe in your skills, if you’re good boxer you could make him one more loss.”

Alvarez is 15-0-1 since losing to Mayweather. The only blemish on Alvarez’s record during that span was a controversial draw against Gennady Golovkin in September 2017. Much of the boxing world believed that Golovkin should’ve been awarded the victory. Alvarez defeated Golovkin in the rematch a year later in another very tight battle.

Alvarez and Bivol are both 31 years old. Bivol has a height and reach advantage, though neither may factor much against the technically gifted Alvarez.

Bivol, who began his professional career in November 2014, is a perfect 19-0 in his professional boxing career. Each of his last six wins have come by unanimous decision.

Bivol has not fought an elite opponent in his career. His camp may be hoping that Bivol's unconventional punching and defensive style might alter the strategy of an experienced power puncher like Alvarez and therefore present an opportunity for an upset.