Despite Objections WBA Will Sanction Canelo-Dimitry Bivol Bout

It’s no surprise that with one of the top draws in all of the sport, Undisputed Super Middleweight champ Canelo Alvarez, looking to move up and fight their world champion at Light Heavyweight, Russian Dimitry Bivol, that the WBA won’t stand in the way of it happening this May. This, despite the continued attack by Bivol’s country on neighboring Ukraine.

The World Boxing Association president Gilberto Mendoza gave their blessing Monday for the May 7th bout to take place in Las Vegas for their “Super” 175 lb. world title on Monday afternoon,

#CaneloBivol https://t.co/A9J3G1aYNa

— WBA Boxing (@WBABoxing) March 25, 2022

Their statement, which won’t be without controversy, reads,

Like all compassionate people who believe in democracy and living peacefully, we at the WBA are heartbroken by the senseless loss of life in Ukraine.

Seeing innocent Ukrainians, particularly women and children murdered makes us sad and leaves us feeling somewhat helpless. We’re still beyond proud to watch several of boxing’s bravest current and former champions – Vitali Klitschko, Wladimir Klitschko, Oleksandr Usyk, Vasiliy Lomachenko and Viktor Postol – fight for their lives and the future of their families and their country.

We also understand and respect the position of Wladimir Klitschko, one of our longtime champions, who has asked that we at the WBA, along with the entire boxing world, avoid sanctioning title fights involving Russian boxers while this brutal war continues. Mr. Klitschko specifically called for us to not sanction the upcoming light heavyweight bout between Russia’s Dmitry Bivol and Mexico’s Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

After careful consideration, we have decided that it would be unfair to both Mr. Bivol and Mr. Alvarez to not sanction their 12-round bout as a WBA title fight. We feel we would unfairly punish Mr. Bivol and Mr. Alvarez by boycotting their fight.

Mr. Bivol does not support the invasion and has been an exemplary champion throughout his long run as a WBA light heavyweight champion, both in and out of the ring.

As for Mr. Alvarez, he made a significant career decision before the war began, believing that if he returned to the light heavyweight division for their May 7th bout, he would be afforded the opportunity to win the WBA Light Heavyweight belt. We feel that denying Mr. Alvarez that opportunity due to a war that has nothing to do with him would be the wrong thing to do.

Lastly, we will continue to stand with all the bodies by not sanctioning WBA bouts in Russia for the duration of the war in Ukraine, which we hope and pray ends as soon as possible.

As Mendoza referenced and as we wrote again last week, the Kltischko brothers continue to plea for the world to help their war-torn country against the aggression and attacks of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his forces.

Former Undisputed Heavyweight champ Wladimir Klitschko pleaded on video for help for their southern neighboring nation of Russia and for the world and it’s leaders to cut-off Russia, economically.

Nonetheless, there is massive money to be made on PPV and in the live gate, as Alvarez will make his 2022 ring return to fight the unbeaten Bivol. And, there is an argument that Bivol, who’s been living and training in the U.S. for the past few weeks is not in favor of what’s being done, but cannot speak out due to concerns over retaliation against their families, etc. back in Russia.

The bout is part of a multi-fight deal that Canelo has agreed to with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing that is slated to have a trilogy bout take place in September against former Middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin.

GGG is slated to fight Japan’s Ryota Murata in an IBF/WBA 160 lb. Unification bout in Japan April 9th. So, there is obviously still a variable for Canelo-GGG III.

For now though, Alvarez and Bivol have the blessing of the WBA and the Nevada commission who’s sanctioning the bout to move forward.