Callum Smith v Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez: Mexican dominates to score emphatic victory

Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez dominated Callum Smith with a near-flawless display to inflict the first defeat of the British fighter's career and take his WBA world super-middleweight title belt.

The Mexican superstar, who also captures the vacant WBC belt, won easily on points in Texas.

He won by unanimous decision with the judges scoring 119-109 119-109 117-111.

Alvarez has now won 56 of his 57 fights, with his only defeat against Floyd Mayweather seven years ago.

Victory means boxing's best-paid star is now a four-weight world champion.

Smith, 30, came into the fight as an undefeated underdog and with a distinct height advantage but failed to seriously trouble Alvarez, who regularly backed the Liverpudlian into the ropes with his vicious jab.

"I'm devastated. I came here to win," Smith told DAZN at the Alamodome in San Antonio. "No excuses he was very good.

"It could have been a better version of me tonight. He performed and was the better man."

Alvarez said he knew he could take Callum Smith's power "from the first round"

"This is one of the best nights I have had. One of the greatest nights. I will go for more. I want all the belts, it doesn't matter who has them."

Alvarez also said he would take a third fight with Kazakhstan's Gennady Golovkin if he wants it, adding: "I don't run from anybody. I have fought against the best. I have shown the world I fight the best."

More to follow.

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24 comments

"No excuses he was very good"... should be "No excuses he is very good."
Hats off, Camelot is one of the best pure boxers I have seen in many a year.. one would argue a one off
Always going to be one way traffic canelo is class look is profile is there
He’s lost on points big time. But the thing is, if he had a pair of balls and actually fought Canelo, rather than trying not to get hit. He could have made it competitive. He didn’t once gain his respect. He has so much power, but didn’t use it. So disappointed in the lad. He’ll look back at that and not be able to live with himself. Tellin yer. (Until he looks at his bank balance of course)
True Shrew replied:
Maybe so, but you have to remember GGG failed to stop Canelo in two fights and we know how GGG can punch.
Heart shown from Smith but Canelo is an immovable force. It was never going to go another way tonight
Who's nxt for canelo
You have to be some kind of third rate fighter to be dominated by a guy 6 inches shorter and with a 7 inch reach disadvantage. Callum Smith is just such a fighter.
"Alvarez has now won 56 of his 57 fights" This incorrect stat has been on every article about this fight. You even mention Golovkin in the article BBC....
Frankly, a forgone conclusion once the fight was agreed.
Well done to Callum Smith for lasting the distance against probably the best pound for pound boxer in the World today.
I felt disappointed in Smith. He wasn't throwing enough punches backed away and stopped putting pressure start of round 3 onwards. Canelo done what was need praise there smith just wanted to last 12 rounds and was not looking to win at any stage if fight stopped 4th round we would have save view.
Canelo was in a different league. Callum Smith showed that he had some big grapefruits to stay the distance and didn't disgrace himself at all against the best around at the moment.

Smith will bounce back and I'm looking forward to seeing him do very well going forward...
Fair play to Callum, really did give it his all and was not going to fall flat or quit, much respect. Whatever you think about Canelo, just apprecaite he is going to go down in boxing history as a p4p great. Crazy defence!
It comes to something when you are a bone fide World Champion....

& find out, painfully, you are way out of your depth....

That's how good Canelo is.
Well done callum nothing wrong you stood your ground canelo is different class hope Khan and Brook are watching both glass jaw boxers
One of the best ever Canelo
Yuk replied:
See, I’m not convinced.

GGG beat him the first time and earned a draw the second. Mayweather made easy work of him. I don’t think he’d have had much of a chance against a prime Calzaghe or Roy Jones.

Meanwhile, even today, people like Inoue and Usyk are mangling everyone they fight.

So aye he’s an excellent fighter, but a best ever?

Na.
It was always going to be a big ask but it wasn't to be, but at least he gave it a go, come back stronger Callum lad 🥊👍🇬🇧
As one-sided as Calzaghe’s mangling of Jeff Lacey, but, as I said after the two GGG fights (the first of which Saul definitely lost) - are we all just going to ignore Alvarez testing positive for Clenbuterol?

Boxing is so odd in this respect.

Cycling, running, your career’s over, but boxing?

Give it a few months and get in a quick win and no one cares.

Bizarre.
Retire
Credit to Callum Smith for heart and for being a great champion, but that was like when Mayweather schooled Canelo in their fight. The level difference was simply mind-boggling. The punching power and defence of Canelo was second to none tonight. One of his best performances.