Boxing Manager Claims Russian Fighter Was Told to Lose—But Wasn’t Paid After Refusing.
The boxing world is once again caught in controversy following bold statements from legendary trainer Nacho Beristáin, who claims that Russian fighter Dmitry Bivol has yet to receive his earnings from his victory over Mexican superstar Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez in May 2022. According to the Hall of Fame coach, Bivol was allegedly pressured to take a loss, but after refusing to comply, he was denied his winnings.
The highly anticipated Bivol vs. Canelo fight took place on May 7, 2022, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. In a shocking upset, the Russian outclassed the Mexican favorite and successfully defended his WBA light heavyweight title. However, Beristáin suggests that due to a confidentiality clause, Bivol was prevented from speaking out about the non-payment of his fight purse.
This narrative, however, conflicts with reports from 2022. Just five days after the fight, Bivol publicly stated that he had yet to receive his purse, but he attributed the delay to banking restrictions linked to sanctions on Russia amid the Ukraine conflict.
Meanwhile, discussions about a potential rematch in 2024 failed to materialize due to disagreements over the fight’s terms. Bivol expressed interest in moving down to 168 pounds to challenge Canelo again, but the Mexican champion refused to put his undisputed super middleweight titles on the line. As a result, Bivol remained in his natural 175-pound division, making a second showdown between the two unlikely.
Nacho Beristáin’s allegations have reignited concerns over the integrity of professional boxing, a sport that has faced growing criticism over alleged match-fixing and corruption in recent years. While Canelo Álvarez continues his career, taking on new challengers, his defeat against Bivol remains a hot topic of debate, fueling speculation about what really happened behind the scenes.