Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez set for super-middleweight clash with Callum Smith

There will be a super-middleweight clash between Callum Smith and Mexican star Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez on December 19.

Alvarez is the challenger of the clash that will hold in the USA. This means the year-long wait for Canelo’s return has ended. This is a major opportunity for Smith, who is part of those who have been looking forward to the fight. Billy Joe Saunders also long coveted the fight.

Canelo will now be in line to take undefeated Smith’s WBA ‘super’ belt.

Canelo is the current WBA and WBC belt holder at middleweight and another version of the WBA’s super-middleweight title.

After ending his relationship with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions earlier in the month, he will be going into this fight as a free agent.

But there is still an ongoing lawsuit filed by Canelo over an inability to agree on terms for his next fight, having been out of the ring since November 2019. In his last fight, he won a world title by knocking out light-heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev in a fourth division clash.

Canelo’s only loss is against a retired boxer, Floyd Mayweather. The Mexican star is a veteran of 56 fights, including two classic middleweight clashes against Gennady Golovkin.

If he succeeds in beating Smith, he will be the sixth British boxer he has overcome, after defeating Amir Khan and Liam Smith, Callum’s brother as well.

Meanwhile, Smith has won all 27 of his fights so far. The most recent was a win by point against John Ryder last November. He also knocked out George Groves to clinch the WBA title and World Boxing Super Series tournament.

Speaking with Skye Sport ahead of the December 9 clash, Tony Bellew, another British boxer, noted that Smith is the test of a lifetime for Canelo. This is because he is a bigger and stronger boxer who has been undefeated so far.

He is unsure if Canelo will emerge victorious against his fellow countryman due to his size and the pressure he will bring.

Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed