CANELO ALVAREZ has confirmed his next fight will be against Brit Callum Smith on December 19.
The Mexican superstar will return to the ring as a free agent having terminated his contract with Golden Boy Promotions.
Mexican legend Canelo Alvarez will take on Merseysider Callum Smith next monthCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Tough Brit Callum Smith has held the WBA (Super) and Ring magazine super-middleweight titles since 2018 Credit: Getty Images – Getty
And he has chosen Liverpool brawler Smith, 30, for his return.
Canelo, 30, made the announcement on Instagram after telling fans he had big news to share on Tuesday evening in a teaser tweet.
He has not fought since moving up to light-heavyweight in November last year to KO Sergey Kovalev for the WBO belt he later vacated.
But former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew believes Smith has ‘every opportunity’ of causing a huge upset.
Bellew claims Canelo will have the ‘shock of his life when he feels the strength of Callum Smith up close’.
And the Merseysider’s promoter Eddie Hearn said: “It is the opportunity of a lifetime for Smith and it’s what we always looked for.”
Canelo has spent this year on the sidelines in frustration, having failed to find an opponent due to the coronavirus pandemic.
And streaming service DAZN – who Canelo had a £278million deal with in 2018 – would not approve proposed fights put forward by the iconic puncher.
As a result, he terminated his partnership with the platform and promoter Oscar De La Hoya.
Canelo, as a free agent, searched for an opponent and appeared to commit to super-middleweight, where he was mean to fight Billy Joe Saunders this summer.
Caleb Plant and John Ryder were also considered but Smith has secured the huge bout.
Ironically, Canelo will face Smith on DAZN in both the US and UK, with Hearn promoting the fight.
Canelo Alvarez will take on Callum Smith in DecemberCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Eddie Hearn says Canelo Alvarez is in talks to face Callum Smith or John Ryder in December
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
