Canelo vs. Bivol

The official Tapology discussion thread for the event!

Zhang vs. Alexander
Scott Alexander, DEC
Honestly can't get the memory of how poor Zhilei Zhang looked against Jerry Forrest out of my mind. He was lucky to get the draw IMO and coming up against a guy who's never been KO'd makes me think he'll gas out again and maybe won't be so lucky this time.

Clenbuterol was a huge controversy and the fight (and the whole show related to it) with Yildirim was disgusting, but nobody can take credit for Canelo unifying the Super Middleweights by beating two undefeated world champions (Saunders and Plant) in a row. . The real problem with Saul Alvarez is the Canelo Fanboys and Canelo Haters: for the Canelo Fanboys Alvarez easily beat Plant, the pre-knockout scorecards reflected the fight and he was never in any trouble during that (which is fake, clearly that wasn't a simple fight). For the Canelo Haters Alvarez beat Plant because Caleb was bad (which is false, he was an undefeated world champion with several title defenses). I think there is a middle point where you can see and enjoy the fights of who is undoubtedly the most mediatic boxer of this time, without falling into being a fanboy or hater. I personally think people are underestimating Bivol as he is a solid light heavyweight champion and along with Golovkin he is probably the most physically strong opponent Canelo has ever faced. Despite what I said about seeing and enjoying the most mediatic fight, I have never liked Canelo's position that he took in the hydration closure negotiations. It should be noted that at the time Pacquaio also used the agreed hydration and weight closures, including Floyd who sometimes did an exhaustive analysis with his management before taking a fight and the infamous act of dodging Pacquiao in his Pre Marquez-knockout prime. But on this occasion, Bivol was not given a rehydration closure, nor a weight limit for the day after the weigh-in, so if Canelo won in a truly impressive way, no one could detract from it.

What would remain pending for Canelo to demonstrate beyond the trilogy with GGG (which was also a controversial fact, since the extension between the second and third fight marks the closeness of GGG at 40 years old) leaving aside a unification with Beterbiev or a super-fight with Usyk (the latter seems more like a fantasy to me than a real option) would be to fight Benavides (if he wins Lemiux for the interim title) and Charlo (although he looked bad for not being able to knock out Montiel, it is a reality that he has been a solid champion at 160 pounds).

Castro vs. Vicente
Marc Castro, TKO, R2
Your not foolin' me "Castro", that's Elon Musk!

Love vs. Valenzuela
I embrace Montana Love at -600. He has a radical sleeper slam and a final overhead chop. Love might embarass the cutman.

Álvarez vs. Bivol
I have a crush on Canelo Álvarez at -500. He has a yummy kneebar. Álvarez will negate the canvas.

Gomez vs. Giyasov
I am obsessed with Shakhram Giyasov at -350. He has a macabre elevator hook sweep. Giyasov might impair the senses. Fix und fertig!

Castro vs. Vicente
I go with Marc Castro at -5000. He has an accurate hane goshi. Castro should nuzzle the production.

Velazquez vs. Soto
I fancy Joselito Velazquez at -500. He has a lascivious reverse frankensteiner. Velazquez is gonna prove the canvas.

Espino vs. Silva
I am sniffing Aaron Silva at -140. He has a hot tsuri-dashi and an original piledriver and also a tremendous finger lock. Silva will likely unseat the rival.

Man its cool to watch boxing a loss carries more weight than in MMA per say, and you can feel the tension

Big upset in the 1st fight. UNLESS, the judges Rob Valdovinos.

This result will be a good indicator of what kinda scores to expect from the judges tonight. 
Valdovinos has won the last 3 rounds pkys he scored a Knockdown so that's a 10-8 round included.
So score should be 3-3 with a Knockdown he, Valdovinos, wins

DICEY DICEY!!!!! 🎲🎲

Yikes, these clowns are going to be scoring Canelo vs Bivol? I'm probably going to be fading Molina soon.

Ehh.  I could’ve seen it either way but I gave rd 5 to Molina so I had him winning 57-56

Back Yard Brawler about to get KTFOd!!!!  Real quick!!!

Damn.  I had rd 3.  Lol

Nice action in the first for these two. Edge Espino.

* Edited at 05.07.2022, 5:57 PM ET *

Wow.  I had Espino up 2-1 before that.  oof

Wow!
I wasn't quite sure how Espino, the Matchroom USA boxer, was a slight underdog against the relatively unknown Mexican Aaron Silva.

Welp, he just showed why by KTFOing Espino!!!!

Always gotta look out for these Mexicans!!!! 

Damn 1 - 2 so far.... Say it aint so! I thought this was my event

 Velazquez is connecting

* Edited at 05.07.2022, 7:29 PM ET *

Soto shots have less power

* Edited at 05.07.2022, 7:30 PM ET *

That knockdown was brutal