Dmitry Bivol humbles Canelo Álvarez in shocker to retain light heavyweight title

Dmitry Bivol shocked Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez, his devastated army of fans, all of Mexico and boxing itself when he retained his WBA light heavyweight title with a consummate victory on points in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Bivol, the 31-year-old Russian, improves his record to a perfect 20-0 but none of his previous victories come close to the magnitude of this utterly dominant win over the feted Álvarez. Bivol was awarded the decision on all three scorecards by a scandalously narrow margin of 115-113.

Álvarez’s bruised, cut and swollen face, and dejected demeanour through much of the fight, told the real story. Bivol’s significant advantages in size, power and speed made the difference. He was simply too big, too fast, too skilful and too concentrated for Álvarez, who won his first world title at 154bs – which is 21 pounds lighter than the division where he suffered such a painful defeat at the T-Mobile Arena.

Related: Dmitry Bivol defeats Canelo Álvarez in major upset to retain light heavyweight title – live!

Bivol, the champion, was made to walk first to the ring as the chants of “Can-el-o…Can-el-o…Can-el-o” reverberated around the arena. It was an insult to Bivol but Álvarez, at least until Saturday night, was the king of boxing. Even when boos rained down on him the closer he came to the ring, Bivol remained relaxed. A smile played across his hooded features and, even when the arena was lit up by fireworks and rocked with noise as Álvarez was lifted on a plinth before his ringwalk began, Bivol seemed unfazed. He simply banged his brown gloves together with obvious relish.

As if he suddenly realised the enormity of the task facing him, Álvarez said a little prayer in his corner just before the first bell. Álvarez