Craig Richards fought Dmitry Bivol and thinks ‘it won’t be an easy task for Canelo’ in their title fight

Anyone who believes Canelo will step on Dmitry Bivol needs to think again.

Canelo has spent the past two years working his way through the super middleweight division and winning all four belts, but he now faces a different challenge at Bivol at light heavyweight on May 7.

Craig Richards, who battled to a 12-round unanimous decision loss to Bivol last May, believes Canelo won’t be able to separate the Russian as easily as he has his previous opponents.

“Canelo won’t be able to close the distance as easily as he does with other people,” Richards told talkSPORT.

“Bivol always throws when he can, he’s very busy with his hands and he’s a sharp shooter, so it won’t be an easy task for Canelo.

“It depends on whether Bivol’s power can confuse Canelo, but it will be an interesting fight and whoever can impose their style best will win.”

Canelo has fought once at 175lbs in 2019, when he knocked out Sergey Kovalev in the 11th round of their fight, but this time he will face a light heavyweight in his prime, unlike Kovalev whose best days were behind him. .

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Bivol has looked competent but a little underwhelming in recent years, having not scored a knockout since March 2018, despite having been around some tough opponents including current WBO light heavyweight world champion Joe Smith Jr.

The Russian will need to get back to his best form if he is to stand a chance against the pound-for-pound king of boxing, Canelo.

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