Risky Business: Eddie Hearn Warns of Dangers in Canelo Alvarez's Pursuit of Bivol Rematch at 175

Eddie Hearn, the promoter of Mexican boxing icon Canelo Alvarez, understands that there is no stopping Alvarez from pursuing what he wants next if he emerges victorious against British underdog John Ryder on Saturday night. Alvarez is determined to avenge his loss to Dmitry Bivol and has demanded that their second fight be contested at the light heavyweight limit of 175 pounds, the same weight at which Bivol defeated him by unanimous decision last May.

Hearn acknowledged Alvarez's desire for a Bivol rematch during an interview, stating, "That’s my instructions from Eddy Reynoso. They want revenge from that defeat. It’s a tough fight. It may be the wrong fight. But it doesn’t matter. He should be applauded for that." While some may advise against a rematch with Bivol, Alvarez is resolute in his pursuit. Hearn added, "He wants the opportunity to rematch. But we’ll see what Saturday brings."

Alvarez, who holds the IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO super middleweight titles, is heavily favored to defeat John Ryder in their upcoming bout. However, his focus remains on securing a rematch with Bivol. While Bivol has expressed interest in dropping down to the super middleweight limit of 168 pounds, Alvarez has been adamant about fighting Bivol at light heavyweight once again.

Hearn explained, "Canelo wants the same terms as last time. Canelo wants the fight on the terms that he got beat on." While Bivol is open to the idea of fighting at 168 pounds to pursue an undisputed title, Alvarez wants to face him at 175 pounds. Hearn added, "If Canelo wins, he’s not gonna get the rewards from the public, from the people, from the pundits. He wants to do the impossible, in some people’s eyes, which is to beat Dmitry at 175. It’s a bit crazy, but that’s Canelo Alvarez. He wants the biggest challenges."

In their previous encounter, Bivol convincingly defeated Alvarez, who was a 4-1 favorite. Judges scored the fight in Bivol's favor, and Alvarez acknowledged his definitive defeat. However, Alvarez bounced back from his loss by defeating Gennadiy Golovkin in their third fight.

The Alvarez-Ryder fight will headline a DAZN Pay-Per-View show in the United States. Subscribers can purchase the five-fight show for $59.99 through DAZN's website, while non-subscribers can buy it for $79.99 through cable and satellite providers.

Regardless of the outcome of the Ryder fight, Alvarez remains determined to seek redemption and prove himself by facing Bivol once again. His unwavering pursuit of challenging opponents and desire to overcome past defeats solidify his reputation as one of boxing's biggest stars.