Nearly two years after Dmitry Bivol’s stunning victory over Canelo Alvarez, new revelations have reignited controversy surrounding the fight.
While much of the boxing world is now focused on a potential Canelo vs. Terence Crawford superfight, legendary trainer Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Beristain has made claims that could shake the sport to its core.
Was Bivol pressured to lose?
During an interview on the Spanish YouTube channel El Boxglero, Beristain dropped a bombshell: Bivol allegedly never received his full purse for the fight against Canelo.
The Hall of Fame trainer, who has worked with icons like Juan Manuel Marquez and Oscar De La Hoya, stated that Bivol was owed between 5.5 million and 7.5 million dollars but refused the money due to conditions attached to the payment.
“They were forcing him to lose, but he never gave in,” Beristain claimed.
According to him, Bivol prioritized his integrity and legacy over financial incentives, fighting with the intent to win despite outside pressures.
The X account ‘The Spit Bucket Podcast’ later echoed these claims, summarizing the allegations.
“Legendary Mexican Trainer, Nacho Beristain, claims that Dmitry Bivol is yet to be paid following his win over Canelo Alvarez because Bivol was not supposed to win. Beristain claims that Bivol is still owed between 5-7 million dollars.”
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time concerns over Bivol’s fight earnings have surfaced. In 2022, Bivol told Russian news agency TASS that he had not received his guaranteed five-million-dollar payday. At the time, he attributed the delay to financial sanctions on Russia rather than any behind-the-scenes foul play.
For the May 7, 2022, fight, Canelo reportedly earned around 40 million, while Bivol’s contract listed a base purse of two million dollars plus a share of pay-per-view revenue. If Beristain’s allegations prove true, it raises major questions about the integrity of boxing’s financial dealings.
As the sport shifts its focus to Canelo’s next potential superfight and Bivol’s upcoming rematch with Artur Beterbiev on February 22, this controversy may not fade away quietly. If more details emerge, the fallout could be significant-not just for Bivol and Canelo but for the entire boxing world.