Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez took Callum Smith undefeated by winning by unanimous decision on Saturday to seize the WBA and WBC titles in the super middleweight category.
The Mexican Álvarez (54-1-2 with 36 knockouts) largely dominated the only fight he could hold in the year of the pandemic. Throughout the 12 rounds at the Alamodome, he frequently resorted to straight punches and right hooks on the English fighter’s head.
Two judges ruled 119-109, and the third gave 117-111, all in favor of “Canelo”.
Álvarez had knocked out Liam, Callum’s older brother, on September 1, 2016, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, also in Texas. Many speculated that Callum wanted to avenge that setback on his brother in the ninth episode.
But Álvarez did not go through great difficulties with the younger brother.
The two fighters held their first contest of 2020, a year of little boxing activity due to the coronavirus. And in the first five rounds, they were both a bit rusty.
It took almost a minute of combat for the first blow to be delivered, a right hand from Álvarez. There were few punches and exchanges in the opening round, which was practically shadow boxing.
Towards the end of a thrilling sixth inning, Álvarez landed a powerful right uppercut that knocked Smith’s head back. The Mexican sought to inflict more punishment on the chin, but Smith survived.
The Guadalajara redhead landed another hard right to Smith’s jaw with about a minute left of the eighth round. And with a minute and a half to fight in the ninth, Smith hit the ropes, absorbing a tremendous right hook.
The punishment above continued in the later episodes, which left Smith’s face flushed.
After a victory without extenuating circumstances, “Canelo” said that he would like to fight a third suit against the Kazakh Gennady Golovkin, who set a record the day before, defending his middleweight titles for the 21st time, with a victory by knockout over him. Polish Kami Szeremeta.
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