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Mexican pound-for-pound champ Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez ended the longest layoff of his profession on Saturday, brutally overpowering the beforehand unbeaten Callum Smith to seize two tremendous middleweight titles with a unanimous resolution in Texas. Three-division champion Alvarez claimed the vacant WBC title and Briton Smith’s WBA model of the 168-pound belt, overcoming a stark top distinction as he moved up in weight class for the struggle in entrance of a pandemic-limited crowd on the Alamodome in San Antonio. “I feel really proud to have this,” Alvarez mentioned. “I signify not solely the boxing world however my nation. I did an awesome job after a 13-month layoff.
“I am the best in the world.”
Alvarez improved to 54-1-2 with 36 knockouts, whereas Smith suffered the primary defeat of his professional profession and dropped to 27-1, 19 knockouts.
Saturday’s victory rekindles the opportunity of a 3rd struggle between Alvarez and Gennady “GGG” Golovkin, who misplaced to Alvarez in a controversial majority resolution in Las Vegas in 2018.
The 30-year-old Alvarez confirmed he’s one of many smartest fighters within the sport, adjusting on the fly and managing to get contained in the lengthy attain of Smith to assault the physique and head.
“I felt great at 168 pounds. This is one of the best nights for me,” mentioned Alvarez.
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, that has killed 315,000 folks throughout the US up to now 11 months, organizers had been pressured to restrict the gang measurement however they nonetheless managed to get a allow to permit 15,000 folks into the 32,000-seat venue.
They noticed Alvarez, who goes by the nickname “Canelo”, land each punch in his arsenal through the glorified sparring session with Smith whose busted up face and blood-spattered white trunks advised the story.
Alvarez’s greatest punch was the best uppercut and he threw it with authority, imposing his will like he was chopping down a tree. His greatest spherical was the ninth when he virtually knocked Smith down — the ropes the one factor holding the champ up.
All three judges gave virtually each spherical to Alvarez with two scoring it 119-109 and the third 117-111.
‘GGG’ trilogy beckons
The opening rounds had been uneventful however Alvarez picked up the tempo within the fourth touchdown strong mixtures and doing the primary bit of injury with the uppercut.
Alvarez put up strong defence as properly, simply slipping punches and countering Smith’s jab.
Alvarez bloodied Smith’s nostril and virtually knocked him down with 84 seconds to go within the ninth, however the Englishman survived the spherical.
Smith averted Alvarez within the closing spherical repeatedly trying up on the clock in a bid to complete the struggle on his ft. Alvarez tried for a knockout as the gang booed Smith for clinching and never throwing punches.
“Since the first round I tried to see what he brings, his skills, whatever. But I showed what I am,” Alvarez mentioned
This was Alvarez’s first struggle since he jumped as much as light-heavyweight to attain an 11th spherical knockout of Sergey Kovalev in November 2019.
The final time Alvarez fought within the 168-pound division, he destroyed one other Englishman, Rocky Fielding, with a third-round stoppage in December 2018.
Smith hoped to avenge the defeat suffered by his elder brother, Liam Smith, towards Alvarez in 2016. Liam was at his brother’s facet on Saturday to look at the struggle.
Alvarez mentioned that “GGG” Golovkin was now in his sights.
Promoted
On Friday, Golovkin knocked down Kamil Szeremeta 4 occasions in a seventh-round stoppage of the overmatched Polish challenger to retain his IBF world middleweight title and transfer nearer to a giant cash trilogy struggle.
“I want all the belts,” Alvarez mentioned. “I don’t run from nobody. I just showed I fight the best. If he (Golovkin) wants the fight I will take it.”
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