The year 2020 could only have one perfect way to close, and it was with the reappearance of top star Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in a great fight. This Saturday, the Mexican will step into the ring at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas to challenge World Boxing Association (WBA) Super Champion Callum Smith.
After several inconveniences, combined with the Covid-19 pandemic, there were doubts about the possible return of Canelo for this year, however, everything could be solved for the sake of boxing and the fans. Now, one of the best fights that the sport can offer at the moment will take place, and the WBC will also be involved.
Alvarez returns at 168 pounds after fighting and knocking out Russian Sergey Kovalev in the 175 pounds. It has been more than a year since the 30-year-old fought and the fans were eager to see him again.
The Guadalajara native hasn’t lost since 2013 when he fell to Floyd Mayweather Jr. By then he had done 12 fights, with 11 victories and one draw, and had won belts in four categories over the years.
He will be facing the new WBA Super Middleweight Champion, Britain’s Callum Smith. “World”, as the tall boxer is nicknamed, is one of the most complicated challenges for Alvarez due to his great physique, his good boxing and the achievements he has had in his career such as his victory in the World Boxing Super Series.
Smith has an 18-cm height advantage over Canelo (1.91 m vs. 1.73 m), which is a feature he can use to tip the scales in his favor. The Liverpool native has defeated the division’s strongest opponents and thus earned a place in boxing’s elite.
It will be the third defense of the title he won in September 2018 against George Groves in the WBSS final. Since then he has successfully exhibited against Hassan N’dam and John Ryder.
Promotional activities will take place throughout this important week and on Friday they will step up to the scale. Alvarez comes into the fight with a record of 53 wins, 1 loss, 2 draws and 36 knockouts, while Smith is undefeated in 27 fights, with 19 knockouts.
