CANELO ALVAREZ hammered Callum Smith over 12 punishing rounds to unify the WBC and WBA super-middleweight world titles on Saturday (December 19) at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Liverpoolโs Smith came into the fight with a towering height advantage but the Mexicanโs ability to close him down was frighteningly effective.
Smith starting out jabbing, feeling his way into the bout. But round by round Alvarez upped the intensity. Canelo teed up heavy left hooks and beat Smith to the mark with solid jabs.
Smithโs punching looked lighter, his blows bouncing off Alvarezโs gloves. In contrast Caneloโs shots were hurtful even as he slammed them into Smithโs arms. The Briton landed short uppercuts when up close, lashing his right hook in when he found an opening. But he could only throw infrequent combinations, Caneloโs defensive movements were too good even as he came forward.
Throughout Alvarez maintained his aggression. In the second half of the contest, he drove Smith across the ring. Canelo pinned him on the ropes more often. He blasted his cross to the body, slammed his right hook through to the head and ripped his own long uppercuts in.
Alvarez was banking rounds while Smith was feeling the effects of those shots. His face was marking up, blood streamed from his nose and at times he almost wilted as Canelo barrelled into him on the ropes. But Smith endured. He kept his feet under him and while he could not drag the momentum of the bout his way, he refused to yield and saw out the last round, relying on resilience and bravery to go the distance.
The decision was unanimous, 119-109 twice and 117-111, all for Canelo.
โIโm devastated, I never wanted to lose,โ Smith said afterwards. โHeโs just smart to be honest with you.โ
โHis jab surprised me a little bit,โ he added. โI let him close the ground a little too easy.โ
โI donโt feel as dominant late on in fights,โ he said, hinting at an eventual move up to light-heavyweight. โI may have outgrown the weight.
โIโve been to the top of the mountain. Iโve been knocked off it.โ
Canelo Alvarez was well pleased with his performance and rightly so. โI did a great job,โ he said. โCallum Smith is a great fighter.โ
โOne of the best nights for me,โ he continued. โOne of the greatest fights Iโve had. Iโll go for more.
โIโm the best in the world.โ
As for Alvarezโs next move, he didnโt rule out a third fight with Gennady Golovkin. โI donโt run from nobody. I showed [that]. I just fought against the best,โ he said.
โI feel great at 168lbs,โ he added. โI want all the belts. It doesnโt matter who is there.โ
With this performance, dominating a leading super-middleweight, after vacating a light-heavyweight world title, confirmed that Canelo Alvarez is indeed the pound-for-pound ruler of the sport today.