Canelo Alvarez dominates Callum Smith with a near-perfect display to capture super-middleweight titles as British fighter suffers his first career defeat in one-sided contest in Texas
- Canelo Alvarez unanimously outpointed Callum Smith to win the WBA, WBC and Ring titles in San Antonio
- Two judges scored the contest 119-109 and the third 117-111 as the Mexican dominated Saturday night’s bout
- Alvarez repeatedly hit the previously undefeated British fighter with straight rights and hooks to the head
- After some early rustiness from both fighters, Alvarez soon took control of the fight and won most rounds
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Canelo Alvarez unanimously outpointed previously undefeated Callum Smith to win the WBA and Ring super-middleweight championships and vacant WBC super-middleweight title Saturday night at the Alamodome.
Alvarez (54-1-2, 36 KOs) dominated his only bout this year, repeatedly hitting Smith (27-1, 19 KOs) with straight rights and right hooks to the head over 12 rounds.
Two judges scored the bout 119-109 and the third had it 117-111.
Canelo Alvarez celebrates after his emphatic points victory over British fighter Callum Smith in San Antonio, Texas
All three judges scored the fight comprehensively in favour of the Mexican as he secured the super-middleweight belts
It came as little surprise that Alvarez was declared the victor – two judges scored it 119-109, with the other 117-111
At 5ft 8in Alvarez was the aggressor against the 6ft 3in Smith.
Alvarez previously knocked out Callum’s older brother, Liam, on September 17, 2016, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Many speculated Callum wanted revenge for the ninth-round knockout, but Alvarez dominated the younger Smith as well.
Alvarez and Smith were fighting for the first time this year due to the restrictions brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic and the ring rust was evident in the first five rounds.
It took nearly a minute before the first punch of the bout was thrown, a lunging right by Alvarez. Punches were sparse and the exchanges were brief in the opening round as both fighters shadowed each other.
Alvarez pressed the action in the opening seconds of the second round, forcing Smith to respond with rights to the head to keep Alvarez from continually stepping forward.
Alvarez with his super-middleweight belts after the contest – he won the WBA, WBC and Ring Championships
Taking the role of aggressor from the first bell, Alvarez (left) constantly pounded Smith’s head in a one-sided contest
Smith jabbed with his left hand more in the third round, occasionally attempting a right uppercut that continually failed to land.
Alvarez landed a series of straight rights and right hooks to the head early in the fourth round that seemed to faze Smith. Alvarez had his most effective combination, landing a left hook to the side of the head, a straight right to the nose and another left hook that delighted the heavily partisan crowd.
Alvarez continued to effectively lunge and dig a right hand to the face between Smith’s gloves in the fifth round. Smith followed up a lunging blow to the stomach to set up a right hook that seemed to shake Alvarez. Smith landed a second right hook following that exchange.
After a rather uneventful sixth round, Alvarez landed a hard right uppercut that snapped Smith’s head back. Alvarez attempted to follow with another uppercut, but Smith sidestepped the attempt and missed an uppercut of his own.
Smith recoils as Alvarez connects with a fierce right to the face, one of several landed during the one-sided fight in Texas
Smith did enjoy his moments but as in this picture failed to connect on the occasions he did force Alvarez onto the defensive
A decent crowd was in attendance ringside at the Alamodome in San Antonio for Saturday night’s super-middleweight fight
Alvarez is announced with flames and a Mexican mariachi band playing before his ring walk in San Antonio
Alvarez landed 60 per cent of his power punches through seven rounds compared to just 20 per cent by Smith.
Alvarez stuffed another hard right uppercut into Smith with about a minute left in the eighth round.
Smith fell back against the ropes following a heavy right hook to the head with about 1 1/2 minutes left in the ninth round.
Alvarez continued to pound Smith to the head in the final rounds, turning Smith’s face bright red from the repeated blows.
Following the victory, Alvarez said he would welcome a third bout against Gennady Golovkin. The two boxers fought to a draw in their initial encounter and Alvarez won the second bout.