Boxing

CANELO ALVAREZ proved too precise and powerful as he dominated Callum Smith over 12 rounds.
Canelo cemented his place atop of the mythical pound-for-pound rankings and emerged as a fully fledged four-division champion.

Canelo Alvarez was dominant as he got past plucky Brit rival Callum SmithCredit: USA TODAY Sports

He walked away with Smith’s WBA super-middleweight title and handed the brave and resilient Brit his first career defeat.
Here SunSport rund down the fight round-by-round.
ROUND 1
Height difference is evident early on as the fight starts cagey.
Canelo lands a straight right to the body in what is the first clean punch of the fight.

Smith is backed up against the ropes and blocks a right hand.

Height difference is evident early on as the fight starts cagey openerCredit: USA TODAY Sports
ROUND 2
Canelo walks forward and lands a right hand to the body.
The Mexican lets his hands go with Smith on the ropes but the champion shows off a tight defence.
Smith pawing with the jab whereas Canelo’s is landing with mean intentions.

Canelo’s is landing with mean intentionsCredit: USA TODAY Sports
ROUND 3
Canelo looking for the left hook but it’s telegraphed by the champion.
Smith is forced to let his hands go as he tries to beat off Alvarez.
Canelo lands a big right hand down the middle then slips two shots coming back at him – showing utter class.

Canelo looking for the left hook but it’s telegraphed by the championCredit: USA TODAY Sports
ROUND 4
Smith comes out firing his jab more but gets countered with a hook.
Canelo letting his hands go with Smith backed up as body shots land.
Alvarez finds home with a big one-two combination and follows it up with an uppercut which forces Smith to hold.

Canelo letting his hands go with Smith backed up as body shots landCredit: USA TODAY Sports
ROUND 5
Canelo slips and rolls under Smith’s shots just oozing class.
Smith finds himself backed up and takes a body shot.
Canelo ends the round with a solid check hook as it’s all one-way traffic.

Big right uppercut lands for Canelo Credit: Handout – Getty
ROUND 6
Heavy looking right hook lands for Canelo, who is bashing up the Brit.
Smith backed to the ropes with Canelo landing power punches trying to find home with a clean shot.
The champion is looking overwhelmed and trailing by a long shot.

Heavy looking right hook lands for Canelo, who is bashing up the Brit.Credit: Handout – Getty
ROUND 7
Smith lands a left hook to the body of his own.
It causes Canelo to retaliate with his own barrage of punches as he comes forward but Smith defends well.
Big uppercut breaks through Smith’s guard as he sits on the ropes – the best shot of the fight so far.

Smith found himself on the end of a masterclass Credit: Getty
ROUND 8
Left hook, followed by a right uppercut whizzes in for Canelo.
Smith fires off a combination but Canelo looks so comfortable and barley bothered.
Both men have a trade off with Smith’s back against the ropes but Alvarez is the quicker and more meaningful puncher.

Canelo looks so comfortable and barley botheredCredit: USA TODAY Sports
ROUND 9
Smith comes out firing but Canelo bops and weaves.
A big right hook rocks Smith back and the ropes help him stay on balance.
Left uppercut just misses for Canelo but he batters Smith with right hands to close out a dominant round for Alvarez.

Smith comes out firing but Canelo bops and weaves.Credit: Getty
ROUND 10
Right hook to the head then body lands for Canelo, a beautiful combination punch.
Smith again finds himself backed up and shipping more punishment.
Canelo has not taken his foot off the pedal, constantly pressuring and coming forward.

Canelo rarely took his foot off the pedalCredit: Handout – Getty
ROUND 11
Smith on the back foot again as he starts the round in survival mode.
Canelo looking for the right hook over the top – Smith is fighting back but nothing is putting a dent in Alvarez.
A right hook backs Smith up but he makes it into the 12th and final round.

Smith fighting back but nothing puts a dent in AlvarezCredit: Handout – Getty
ROUND 12
Overhand right bounces off Smith’s chin.
It causes the first clinch of the fight not long after and the fans boo!
Canelo goes looking for the KO but Smith stays resilient and avoid getting stopped.

Overhand right bounces off Smith’s chin.Credit: Handout – Getty
DECISION
Judges score the bout 119-109, 119-109 and 117-111 all to Canelo.
He says: “I did a great job after 13 months out.
“Smith is a great fighter but I did a great job. I am so happy.”

NINTCHDBPICT000626638002-2Credit: Handout – Getty More

CANELO ALVAREZ was so dismissive of Callum Smith during their fight – he stood up and refused to sit down between rounds.
The Mexican superstar, 30, outclassed his plucky Brit rival to win via unanimous points decision in Texas overnight.

Canelo Alvarez was dominant as he outclassed Callum Smith in their fightCredit: Getty

The P4P king shone throughout and after some early Smith flurries, his power and skill prevailed on an easy nights work.
But as the bout wore on, Canelo showed how unbothered he was by his opponent by standing up in between rounds.
During intervals of the later stages, he calmly walked around, chatted away and looked relaxed in the corner.
It was a sign of how confident the now four-weight division world champion was in the Alamodome, San Antonio.

Pay-per-view TV viewers were quick to point out and spot Canelo’s antics on social media.
One said: “Canelo doesn’t look like he’s in a fight. Barely broken a sweat. All standing up in his corner.”

This man Canelo really standing up when he goes to his corner 😭😭😭
— Kodak Ron (@iPrinceHaynes) December 20, 2020

Another added: “Canelo Alvarez is standing up between the round rd 12 instead resting.”
And one commented: “Not a mark on canelo, standing up between rounds. Have to say canelo is the best out there.

“Smith had a lot of heart just not in his league.”

Callum Smith left with gruesome bulging arm after suspected detached BICEP following Canelo Alvarez loss More

CANELO ALVAREZ looked abs-olutely unstoppable against Callum Smith as he conquered yet another division.
Canelo cemented his place atop of the mythical pound-for-pound rankings and emerged as a fully fledged four-division champion.

NINTCHDBPICT000626638002-1Credit: Handout – Getty

He walked away with Smith’s WBA super-middleweight title and handed the brave and resilient Brit his first career defeat.
The Mexican superstar had won the WBA’s secondary ‘Regular’ belt against Rocky Fielding in 2018.
But he needed Smith’s full version to lay claim as a champ in four different weights.
It was Canelo’s first fight since venturing up to light-heavyweight last November where he knocked out Sergey Kovalev to win the WBO title.

Alvarez later vacated the strap to move down to the 168lb super-middleweight limit – where he intends to settle.
Canelo, 30, said: “I did a great job after 13 months out.
“Smith is a great fighter but I did a great job. I am so happy.
“I am the best in the world and from the first round I wanted to see what he brings but I showed what I am.

Canelo cemented his place atop of the mythical pound-for-pound rankingsCredit: Handout – Getty

Canelo walked away with Smith’s WBA super-middleweight titleCredit: Handout – Getty

Callum Smith suffered defeat for the first time Credit: Handout – Getty

“I feel great at 168lbs, I don’t want to fight with the scales.
“This is one of my best nights but I am going for more.
“I feel more mature and this is one of my best performances but this was not one of the most complicated.”
Fans were stunned by Canelo’s latest body transformation and he cut the bulk and appeared more shredded.
One said: “Canelo abs still ripped after rehydration.”
Another added: “Canelo is just solid, physique, power, skills and chin is solid. On his grave stone will read.. Solid.”
One added: “Canelo looks SHREDDED!!!”

Canelo is just solid, physique, power, skills and chin is solid. On his grave stone will read.. Solid. #CaneloSmith
— A N T (@cockymcgreggy) December 20, 2020

Canelo looks SHREDDED!!!
— Quick – No Ketchup Chicago! (@nharvey1086) December 20, 2020 More

CANELO ALVAREZ put an absolute beatdown on Callum Smith – and the stats prove it.
Canelo walked away with Smith’s WBA super-middleweight title and handed the brave and resilient Brit his first career defeat.

The stats speak for themselves after Canelo’s win

The Mexican superstar proved too powerful and precise in his punches, as he landed with 43 PER CENT of his shots.
Smith, who was bloodied up and left bruised all over, in contrast found home with just 18 per cent success.
Canelo threw an amazing 484 shots over the 12 one-sided rounds, landing 209.
Smith in fact did throw more punches than the challenger but fell short miserably, with only 97 connecting.

Canelo cemented his place atop of the mythical pound-for-pound rankings and emerged as a fully fledged four-division champion.
He had won the WBA’s secondary ‘Regular’ belt against Rocky Fielding in 2018.
But he needed Smith’s full version to lay claim as a champ in four different weights.
It was Canelo’s first fight since venturing up to light-heavyweight last November where he knocked out Sergey Kovalev to win the WBO title.

Callum Smith struggled to land anything clean on CaneloCredit: Handout – Getty

Canelo backed Smith up frequentlyCredit: Handout – Getty

Smith was forced on the back foot throughoutCredit: Handout – Getty

Alvarez later vacated the strap to move down to the 168lb super-middleweight limit – where he intends to settle.
Canelo, 30, said: “I did a great job after 13 months out.
“Smith is a great fighter but I did a great job. I am so happy.
“I am the best in the world and from the first round I wanted to see what he brings but I showed what I am.
“I feel great at 168lbs, I don’t want to fight with the scales.
“This is one of my best nights but I am going for more.
“I feel more mature and this is one of my best performances but this was not one of the most complicated.”

Smith celebrates his one-sided points winCredit: Handout – Getty

Canelo cemented himself as a fully-fledged four-division championCredit: USA TODAY Sports More

CANELO ALVAREZ cemented himself as a fully-fledged four-division champion after dominating Britain’s brave and resilient Callum Smith.
The Mexican superstar walked away with the WBA super-middleweight crown, two years after winning their secondary ‘Regular’ title.

Canelo cemented himself as a fully-fledged four-division championCredit: USA TODAY Sports

Canelo celebrates his one-sided points win over SmithCredit: Handout – Getty

Canelo had too much power and precision for Smith and stormed to victory after 12 one-sided and almost identical rounds in Texas.
After the win, he said: “I did a great job after 13 months out.
“Smith is a great fighter but I did a great job. I am so happy.
“I am the best in the world and from the first round I wanted to see what he brings but I showed what I am.”

The first round started as a cagey affair, with Canelo coming forward and Smith happy to back himself up.
But it was not long until Alvarez asserted himself as the dominant force in the fight, landing jabs and body shots on his taller opponent.
From rounds two to four, Canelo walked forward, rocking Smith’s head back, landing big right hands as the Brit covered up on the ropes.
The champion fortunately had a tight defence, but looked too tentative as he allowed the pound-for-pound king, 30, to outwork him.

Callum Smith struggled to land anything clean on Canelo Credit: Handout – Getty

Canelo backed Smith up frequently in an impressive displayCredit: Handout – Getty

Canelo, too, showed off his famed defence, slipping and rolling underneath Smith’s rare attacks as he showed off his pure class.
Alvarez regularly found success with his right hand, both down the middle and as a hook set up behind his jab.
Smith struggled to find any sort of rhythm as he was forced to cover up and defend on the ropes.
It was all Canelo in the second-half of the fight, with the Mexican coming forward at will.
But his body shots were finding the target more frequently, with Smith’s defence beginning to get cut apart.

Smith was forced on the back foot throughout the fightCredit: USA TODAY Sports

Canelo landed a string of solid right hands on Smith during the fight Credit: USA TODAY Sports
In round seven, a massive uppercut up the middle broke through Smith’s guard – the best shot of the fight up until that point.
Smith came out firing in the eighth, but Canelo hardly looked bothered as he nonchalantly slipped and dipped out of trouble.
With Canelo having backed up his man to the ropes again, the two had a trade off but Alvarez’s speed and precision prevailed.
Smith momentarily looked hurt in round nine after a right hook bounced off his chin, with the ropes appearing to help him stay on balance.
Canelo sensed danger and piled on the pressure, battering Smith’s head and body as he bloodied up the Liverpudlian.
In rounds ten and 11, Alvarez came on strong swinging in heavy rights over the top.
Smith did let his hands go in a desperate attempt to fight off Canelo, but ended up taking one for his troubles.
Alvarez kept up the onslaught in the 12th and final round as he looked for the KO to please his travelling fans Stateside.

Canelo landed an impressive uppercut down the middleCredit: Handout – Getty

Smith took right hands to the face as he was backed up during the fightCredit: Handout – Getty
But Smith continued to cover up successfully and managed to hear the final bell to close out his last round as an unbeaten fighter.
The 30-year-old hinted he could move up to light-heavyweight after a hard cut to super-middle – but promised to enjoy Christmas first.
Smith said: “He was good tonight and I have no excuses, I feel I might have outgrown the weight.
“I don’t feel as dominant late-on but I made the weight OK. I have lost to a pound-for-pound star but we both turned up and he was the better man tonight.
“He is just so smart and clever, he closes the ground down without even punching and sets traps.
“His jab was really good for a shorter guy, I knew his defence was good but his jab surprised me a little bit.
“I want to go home and see my family and enjoy Christmas, I miss my daughter.”

Canelo pictured celebrating the impressive win Credit: Getty More

CHRIS VAN HEEREDEN suffered an almighty cut on his forehead causing his fight with Jaron Ennis to be immediately cancelled.
The South African – who famously sparred ex-UFC champion Conor McGregor – was featuring on the undercard of Emmanuel Rodriguez vs Reymart Gaballo.

Chris van Heerden suffered an almighty cut on his forehead

The gash caused his fight with Jaron Ennis to be immediately cancelled

But it did not last long after Van Heerden clashed heads with Ennis early on in the opening round.
It caused a massive gash to form on to top right of his forehead with the referee left with no choice but to call off the contest.
As the bout did not go past four rounds, and it was caused by an accidental clash, the fight was declared a no-contest.
Van Heerden, 33, was hoping to become the first man to beat unbeaten welterweight prospect Ennis, 23.

Van Heereden confirmed on his Instagram story that he was discharged from hospital having had stitches
But he confirmed on his Instagram story that he was discharged from hospital having had stitches.
The southpaw came into the fight having won his last five.
Van Heerden has not lost since current unified champion Errol Spence Jr, 30, knocked him out.
That defeat came a year before Van Heerden hit the headlines after sparring McGregor in 2016.

Chris van Heerden with Conor McGregor after a sparring session

McGregor, now 32, used the former IBO champion to help him prepare to beat Nate Diaz in their rematch.
Van Heerden was full of praise for McGregor at the time, telling Submission Radio: “Can Conor McGregor box? Yes. He can.
“I was shocked at how well he could handle himself in the ring.
“You can immediately see that Conor’s got a boxing background and that he knows how to use his hands. Yes, Conor can fight.”

Mike Tyson returns to training after comeback fight against Roy Jones Jr with explosive pad work and defensive drills More

FRANCH SANCHEZ punched Julian Fernandez so hard he was knocked out of the ring – with his eyes rolled back into head.
Cuban Sanchez – who was filmed sparring super-middleweight Canelo Alvarez before the fight – closed the show in style.

Frank Sanchez punched Julian Fernandez so hard he was knocked out of the ring

Fernandez’s eyes rolled back into head

He backed Fernandez to the ropes after landing a big right hand.
And Sanchez kept up the pressure exploding with a big combination and the final hook left his opponent out cold.
Fernandez was smashed through the ropes and cameras captured the Mexican looking dazed with his eyes rolled back.
Fans online were quick to troll Fernandez after his prior showboating came back to haunt him.

One said: “Thats what he gets for taunting.”
Another said: “This is “when cocky fighters get destroyed” pt. 999999.”
One added: “Foolish.”

This is “when cocky fighters get destroyed” pt. 999999
— FEMI FROM ENDZ (@ROADMAN_JOSHUA) December 20, 2020

Sanchez moved to 16-0 after securing his 12th knockout.

The 28-year-old trains alongside countryman Canelo, who topped the bill facing Britain’s Callum Smith.
Alvarez and Sanchez sparred each other in the lead up to their fights, despite their huge weight discrepancy.

Watch Canelo Alvarez spar with bulking heavyweight who throws huge hooks at Mexican star during training for return More

GENNADY GOLOVKIN ‘wants another crack at Canelo Alvarez’ in his next fight, promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed.
Canelo’s 2018 win against GGG is the only blemish on the Kazakh’s 43-bout career, which came a year after their contentious draw.

Gennady Golovkin ‘wants another crack at Canelo Alvarez’Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Having been unfortunate not to emerge the victor in both thrillers, according to several, Golovkin is keen on one more shot at revenge.
But if he is unable to lure his great rival into a trilogy bout, WBO champion Demetrius Andrade, 32, and Jaime Munguia, 24, are alternatives.
Hearn said: “I think he wants to fight Canelo Alvarez for the third time.
“We saw two tremendous fights first time up, he believes he should have won those fights.

“And I think he wants another crack at Canelo Alvarez.
“I think there’s some tremendous fights out there for him at 160lb. Demetrius Andrade, who’s here tonight, it’s a great unification matchup.
“Jaime Munguia would be a great fight for DAZN as well. But that’s the fight he’s chasing, he wants those legacy fights.”
Golovkin cruised past mandatory challenger Kamil Szeremeta to make a record breaking 21st middleweight title defence.

Golovkin cruised past mandatory challenger Kamil SzeremetaCredit: Getty Images – Getty

GGG made a record breaking 21st middleweight title defenceCredit: Getty Images – Getty

He dropped the Pole FOUR times before the referee called a halt to the action before the start of round eight.
Afterwards, GGG revealed he would focus on Canelo’s fight with Callum Smith.
Alvarez, 30, prevailed with a one-sided points victory, 24 hours before Golovkin called to face the winner.
GGG said: “Absolutely I am open for anybody. Just best opponent for me, for business, for DAZN for people, for friends, I am ready.
“We will wait for tomorrow, I hope tomorrow is great event. The best, who wins? The best. I am open.”

GGG says he’s very comfortable after defeat of Szeremeta More