CALLUM SMITH insists he is much more than a giant trying to bully little master Canelo Alvarez.
The pre-fight photos of the 6ft 3in WBA and Ring Magazine champ towering over the Mexican by seven inches could make the Texas shootout appear a mismatch – but both weighed in at the 168lb limit on Friday.
Callum Smith has the height advantage over Canelo AlvarezCredit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom.
Callum Smith inists he is more than just a big man ahead of his fight with Canelo AlvarezCredit: Ed Mulholland/matchroom.
The pair shared an intense face-off as they squared off at the weigh-in.
Alvarez is a four-weight king, with a world title from even higher up at light-heavy, and the biggest draw in the hurt business with judges and gamblers rarely going against him.
The Liverpool hero also has a seven-inch reach advantage and was free to regain as much weight as he liked, after somehow squeezing his frame down to 12st on Friday.
But the 27-0 Scouser believes he has the brain and killer instinct to go with the freakish dimensions.
“I am not just a big lump with limited ability,” the modest champ said. “I believe I have the skills to go with it.
“I don’t think I would be where I am now if I didn’t have the skills and ability.
“I believe I have the skills and tactics to win and I just have to perform and do exactly what I know I can do.
“I have always watched Canelo as a fan but I have also always known I can beat him. I think I have the style to do it and now I have the chance to prove it.”
Callum Smith weighed in at 168.0lbs at the weigh-in on Friday Credit: Ed Mulholland/matchroom.
Smith’s trainer Joe Gallagher has correctly suggested his 30-year-old star student will need a miracle to get a points win over boxing’s juiciest cash cow, just two hours away from the Mexico border.
The Brit is a little more diplomatic when discussing his chances of getting a decision where previous Canelo victims Gennady Golovkin (one draw, one win), Erislandy Lara and Austin Trout have controversially failed.
But he would certainly prefer to trust his two heavy fists to decide the fight, instead of leaving it in the unreliable hands of three impressionable judges.
Ahead of the clash at the San Antonio Alamodome, where 12,000 fans will be allowed, Smith said: “I believe, if I go in there and dominate and win rounds, I will get a fair shake from the judges.
‘I HAVE THE POWER TO HURT ANYONE’
He added: “I always believe that, if I do land, I have the power to hurt anyone in the world.
“I also believe I am a good finisher who can get rid of people when I have them hurt.
“I never go in all-guns-blazing but, it is always in the back of my mind, I can be quite spiteful when I have someone hurt.
“I have to treat Canelo Alvarez like every other fighter, I am a world champion, I believe in my own ability and I believe I can beat anyone.”
Smith underwhelmed in his last bout against dogged southpaw John Ryder and beat a seriously depleted George Groves for his world titles in 2018, after the Saint rushed into the fight with a recently dislocated shoulder.
The jury is still out among some of Smith’s doubters and the straight-talking star, nicknamed Mundo, wants to finally discover just how great he is for himself too.
“I always wanted to be a world champion and I thought there would be a few rocky moments on the way.
“But I achieved that without really knowing how good I am.
Canelo enters the fight with an incredible record of 53-1-2Credit: 2020 Ed Mulholland
‘PEOPLE DON’T KNOW HOW GOOD I AM’
“I still don’t think people know how good I am because I did it all my own way, without a tough test.
“I made a lot of tough fights – on paper – look easy, then I sat down and asked myself what I wanted and the answer was, the biggest fights possible, I want to test myself against the biggest names in the sport.
“Canelo is the pound-for-pound for best and I want to show I can compete at that elite level.”
Virtually-silent assassin Canelo, 30, who started his professional career aged just 15 and is already a 53-1-2 legend of the sport, is as generous with reporters as he is with his rivals.
The no-nonsense icon said: “We know that he is tall and his boxing qualities make him dangerous.
“But, with my experience and level, we are ready to keep taking risks and making history.
“This will be explosive and if the KO arises then I will take it for the fans.”
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Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
