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'Canelo' Alvarez defeats Smith to grab WBA and WBC super middleweight titles

2020-12-20T09:55:37.370Z


The Mexican Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, dominating throughout the twelve rounds, beat the Briton Callum Smith on points, to unify the WBA titles and seize the vacant WBC super middleweight belt, Saturday in San Antonio ( Texas).


If he failed to send his brave and very resistant opponent to the ground, Canelo undoubtedly deserved his victory, the three judges being unanimous in their decision (119-109, 119-109, 117-111).

The size difference (16 cm) in favor of Smith did nothing: Alvarez hit 209 times his opponent, who returned 97 punches without disturbing the pressure put by the Mexican, appeared like a boa constrictor still clutching a little more its prey.

Considered one of the best boxers in the world in all categories, Canelo was unable to knock Smith out, despite several impressive assaults.

In the 4th round, he spent his right jab between the gloves of the Briton who faltered.

And in the 9th, one wonders how the latter managed to stay on his feet - admittedly a little held back by the ropes - by taking hooks and uppercuts that would have knocked out more than one.

On the verge of rupture, knowing that the defeat would be inevitable in the counting, he still tried a few sequences, which only touched Canelo, excellent in dodging, too little.

Reunion with Golovkin?

At the last round, Alvarez tried to perfect his fight by trying to end it, but again Smith, shorts stained with blood, clenched his teeth, before smiling in the last seconds: he who has never been to the carpet in his career would remain standing.

Another form of victory, which does not prevent him from having conceded his first defeat in 28 fights.

Absent from the rings since he captured the WBO light heavyweight title in November 2019, “Canelo”, also 30 years old and world champion in four different categories (super-welterweight, middleweight, super-middleweight, light heavyweight), now has a record of 54 wins (including 36 before the limit), 2 draws and 1 loss.

"I feel very good.

I did a really good job after 13 months without boxing.

I am very happy, I am back, ”commented Álvarez, applauded by some 12,000 fans allowed to attend the fight in the Alamodome in San Antonio which can accommodate 64,000 people.

Now the only WBA and WBC super middleweight champion, his next challenge could bring him back down to the middleweight by offering a third clash to Gennady Golovkin, who retained his IBF middleweight belt on Friday by easily beating Poland's Kamil Szeremeta.

The first ended in a draw in 2017, the second in a points victory for Canelo, a year later.

“I'm fighting against the best and if it has to be done again with Golovkin so that people can enjoy a great fight, great,” he said.

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Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2020-12-20

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