Thurman Advises Charlo To Follow Bivol’s Plan To Beat Canelo, Froch Backs GGG To Beat Eubank Jr.

Keith Thurman has advised Jermell Charlo to study Dmitry Bivol in his attempts to beat Canelo Alvarez. 

Bivol dominated Canelo to secure a unanimous-decision win over the Mexican at light heavyweight. His judgment of distance, his use of his jab and ability to get Canelo’s respect with his power kept the Mexican on the backfoot.

The defeat was only the second of Canelo’s career, the first of which came at the hands of Floyd Mayweather, showing just how dominant Alvarez had been throughout the years. As a result, Thurman was adamant that this was the blueprint to follow. 

Thurman On Bivol

“Watch how Bivol beat him. There was a special combo that Bivol threw that kept Canelo at bay, especially when Canelo was on the ropes. It was the one, the two, and the one. That’s what people forget sometimes. When you want to maximize distance,  you bop-bop boom, and then he kept doing that retreat thing.

“Go back and watch Bivol. I know Bivol had the reach to do this to Canelo. He kept Canelo at bay with that jab. It was almost like a little stiff arm. I call it drawing a line in the sky. It’s like bob-bop boom. I’m not letting you get in closer because I have the reach advantage, and for you to hit me, you have to cross this line. I can keep you at bay, and it’s easy work, and it was for Bivol,” Thurman

Can Charlo Follow Bivol?

Nevertheless, those comments have to be read in light of a broader context. Alvarez did have surgery on his wrist following the fight, with suggestions that he was not at 100 percent during the fight.

In addition, Alvarez will have likely have learnt from that fight, suggesting that the same game plan cannot work next time around.

And in any event, Bivol is a special fighter who was at light heavyweight, while Charlo will jump up two weight classes to fight above 154 for the first time in his career. And that could prove to be a telling factor. 

Froch On GGG-Eubank Jr.

Elsewhere, Carl Froch has backed Gennady Golovkin to beat Chris Eubank Jr. The latter called out GGG in the aftermath of his win over Liam Smith after stopping him in the tenth round.

That was arguably the biggest win of Eubank’s career as he managed to avenge the defeat he suffered to Smith in the first round.

In the aftermath, Eubank called out GGG as well as Conor Benn. Golovkin, though, is likely to retire from the sport soon having vacated his belts at 160. In addition, given that he is 41, the boxer does not have too much time left.

However, the Kazakh is reportedly keen on fighting in his home country before he hangs up his gloves. And yet, Eubank suggested that a fight with him would prove lucrative as he backed himself to do well. Froch, however, agreed to differ. 

“I don’t think he does, no. Because the last thing to go is a boxer’s power, and he’s that well-schooled that even an old, past his best, reflexes gone a little bit lands a shot on Eubank Jr., and  I think the fight is over. So no, I don’t think he beats GGG, if I’m honest,” Froch said  

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