Boxing’s biggest star makes his 2020 debut against perhaps his toughest test to date as WBA (Super) and WBC “Franchise” middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez challenges Callum Smith for the WBA (Super), The Ring and vacant WBC super middleweight titles on Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio and live on DAZN.
This will be Canelo’s first fight since stopping Sergey Kovalev in the 11th round in November 2019 to claim the WBO light heavyweight title and become a four-division world champion. He returns to the 168-pound division for the second time after blowing out Rocky Fielding with a third-round TKO in December 2018 to capture the WBA (Regular) super middleweight title at Madison Square Garden in New York.
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“I’m very happy to return to the ring and continue to make history,” Alvarez said in a prepared statement. “I am motivated to continue to be the best, and I look forward to fighting Callum Smith, who is one of the best at 168 pounds.”
It’s Fight Season: Join DAZN to watch Canelo Alvarez vs. Callum Smith
The undefeated Smith (27-0, 19 KOs) is back in action against arguably the best fighter in boxing. He narrowly got by John Ryder in his last outing to defend his WBA (Super) and The Ring 168-pound titles. The winner of the World Boxing Super Series in 2018 was featured on the Canelo-Fielding undercard, where he stopped Hassan N’Dam in the third round. As the best super middleweight in the world, Smith aims to turn back Canelo’s challenge.
“I’ve been wanting a big fight since becoming world champion, so I’m so pleased that during these challenging times we can deliver to the fans a fight between the very best in the division,” Smith said. “I truly believe I beat him and will prove that 168 pounds is my division.”
Can Canelo once again prove he’s pound for pound the best fighter in the world? Or does Smith upset the apple cart and pull off the massive upset?
Follow along as Sporting News provides live blow-by-blow coverage of Canelo’s return.
Canelo Alvarez vs. Callum Smith live updates, highlights Result: Canelo Alvarez def. Callum Smith via unanimous decision. Scores were 119-109, 119-109 & 117-111
Round 12 (12:28 a.m.): The only question left as we head into the final round is if Canelo can finish him off. Canelo roars toward Smith and lands a left hand and continues chopping him down. Hard right hand lands. Smith fights back but this is one way traffic. Smith fighting for a moral victory now because that’s all that’s left. Canelo and Smith share a laugh. Why? Who knows. Canelo back to work. Smith trying anything. Smith moving around and grabs Canelo. He’s just trying to survive. And he’s going to not allow Canelo to get the knockout but it’s total domination by the best in the world. 10-9 Canelo (119-109 Canelo)
Round 11 (12:24 a.m.): Gotta give Smith credit, he’s fighting back. He just doesn’t have the power, skill or ability to fend off Canelo. This is absurd. Canelo racks him up with a combination. Canelo lights up Smith with a right hand, follows with a combination of power shots. Canelo smelling blood in the water. Smith is tough as hell and that’s all I got. 10-9 Canelo (109-100 Canelo)
Round 10 (12:20 a.m.): Smith’s father just told him that he’s only giving him one more round. It’s getting brutal. 10th round starts and it feels like it’s only a matter of time. Canelo is hunting for the finish. Left hook lands. Canelo just busting him up. Uppercut shakes up Smith. Good Lord, Canelo is killing Smith now. Smith’s pride is the only thing that’s keeping him up. It’s becoming hard to watch. Smith has absolutely nothing on his punches. Canelo is going to force the Smith family to save the youngest child. 10-9 Canelo (99-91 Canelo)
Round 9 (12:16 a.m.): Canelo slaps Smith up with a left hand and a hard uppercut crushes Smith’s nose. Smith lands a right hand and Canelo rolls off it. Hard three punch combo by Canelo. Oof. Canelo is busting up Smith but Smith isn’t going to quit. Canelo lights Smith up with a right hook that nearly sends Smith into the ropes. Smith fights back but Canelo cracks him…viciously. Might be time to roll the credits on Smith. Canelo is starching him with a bevy of power shots. Another uppercut badly hurts Smith. Smith’s face is falling apart. 10-9 Canelo (89-82 Canelo)
Round 8 (12:12 a.m.): Uppercut and straight right hand lands for Canelo. Another lead uppercut. He’s teeing off on Smith. Smith is wilting but fires back and lands a left hook. Smith with a right hand. Canelo is unbothered. Canelo smokes him with an uppercut and Smith backs off. Smith lands a right hand. Canelo sinks a shot to the body to close the round. Smith is giving his best effort but he’s a few notches below. 10-9 Canelo (79-73 Canelo)
Round 7 (12:08 a.m.): Smith lands a shot to the body after missing with several. Lands a left hook but Canelo just keeps coming forward. Uppercut by Smith. Canelo still coming and lands an uppercut. They exchange punches but Canelo’s body shot seems to freeze Smith briefly. Hard uppercut lands. Canelo is loading up his power shots. Smith is playing on Veteran but Canelo is on All Madden. 10-9 Canelo (69-64 Canelo)
Round 6 (12:04 a.m.): Smith looks defeated in his corner. He’s just realized what he’s dealing with. Canelo wraps a right hook around Smith’s gloves. Smith lands a right hand. Canelo doesn’t care. Hard right hook. Smith throwing combinations. He’s active…or desperate. Smith’s activity may have stolen the round. I’ll give him one. 10-9 Smith (59-55 Canelo)
Round 5 (12:00 a.m.): Smith lands an uppercut and a hook to the body to start the 5th. Canelo is unbothered. Smith with another uppercut. Canelo lands a left hook and a pair of body shots. Smith is trying to fight off a small SUV from running him over. 10-9 Canelo (50-45 Canelo)
Round 4 (11:56 p.m.): Canelo not having a hard time getting inside but now Smith is trying to fight him off with jabs. Canelo smashes Smith with a hard right hand. Briefly buzzes him. Hard right hand down the middle by Canelo. Canelo lands to the body. Smith hitting either arms or air. Canelo is sitting down on these punches. A one two down the middle. Smith lands an uppercut. Canelo smashes him with another combination and an uppercut. Canelo is in full control. Starting to sense that he’s going to go after the knockout in the middle rounds. 10-9 Canelo (40-36 Canelo)
Round 3 (11:52 p.m.): Canelo tried to separate Smith’s from his spirit with a left hook to open the round. Uppercut lands for Canelo. Jab lands. Left hook by Canelo lands. He’s finding a home for these shots. Left hook and a right hand down the middle by Canelo. Smith needs to do something to make Canelo reconsider walking in. Canelo backs Smith into the ropes with jabs. Smith can’t land. 10-9 Canelo (30-27 Canelo)
Round 2 (11:48 p.m.): Smith looking to touch Canelo. Canelo lands a shot to the body. Splits the guard with a jab. Left hook lands by Canelo. Smith fires back and lands a jab to the body. Smith having a hard time landing on Canelo. Canelo sneaks another jab through the guard. Still pushing forward as Smith tries to deter him. Not happening yet. 10-9 Canelo (20-18 Canelo)
Round 1 (11:44 p.m.): Canelo starts by moving forward. Callum jabbing and putting the right hand behind it. Smith with a right hand to the body. Jab and right to the body by Canelo lands. Canelo continues to walk Callum down. They exchange jabs to close the round. Canelo 10-9
11:34 p.m.: After an intro by Matthew McConaughey, Canelo heads to the ring as 11,000 fans cheer in unison as the Mariachi band plays “Final Countdown.” Interesting that the champion walked out first. Maybe even more interesting that we have a virtual version of Michael Buffer doing the introductions.
11:26 p.m.: Callum Smith makes his way to the ring to a chorus of jeers. Clearly, he’s not the fan-favorite tonight. But can he silence them with his performance tonight?
11:09 p.m.: As we await the fighters to make their walks, Lopez speaks to Chris Mannix about what’s next. There are no politics. Lopez wants the smoke with every single lightweight out there…including Devin Haney.
11:01 p.m.: It’s time for the main event! Every single fight has ended in a knockout thus far. Will we get another with Canelo and Callum Smith?
10:51 p.m.: After spending a lot of nervous energy in the first round, Castro settled down and sent Valdes down with a straight right hand in the second frame. He eased into his comfort zone in the third and ended the fight with a blistering combination.
10:44 p.m.: Up now is Marc Castro making his professional debut against Luis Javier Valdes in featherweight action. Castro finally makes his debut after a few cancelations. Castro is highly touted and is looking to impress.
10:09 p.m.: Well, that wasn’t very competitive. Sanchez hurt Fernandez with everything he hit him with and put the blown up heavyweight out of his misery with a devastating right hand that sent him out of the ring in the 7th round. The only thing Fernandez did outside of getting punched in the face was beg for Sanchez to hit him throughout the fight. It was entertaining but didn’t give him much more. The knockout was brutal as Sanchez improves to 17-0 with his 13th knockout. 1:35
9:33 p.m.: Next up is Frank Sanchez vs. Julian Fernandez in a battle of heavyweights.
9:12 p.m.: After Ford sent Lopez down in the first, Lopez made an adjustment in the third to make it competitive. But Ford put Lopez down with a short check hook in the 7th round and Lopez doesn’t make the count. Knockout for Raymond Ford.
8:40 p.m.: Up next is undefeated Raymond Ford (7-0) against Juan Antonio Lopez (15-7) in featherweight action. Will this be yet another early finish?
8:22 p.m.: And just like that, it’s over. Williams clobbered Jones with a left hand in the first round and then obliterated his midsection with what looked like a million punches until the fight was stopped. Jones had never been stopped before. Time of stoppage was 1:29.
8:15 p.m.: We’re kicking off the Canelo-Smith card with hot prospect Austin “Ammo” Williams (6-0) taking on Isiah Jones (9-3). Chances are, this doesn’t go the distance.
Canelo vs. Smith undercard results Canelo vs. Smith start time Date: Saturday, Dec. 19 Time: 8 p.m. ET Canelo-Smith: 11 p.m. ET (approx.) Canelo Alvarez’s return to the ring against Callum Smith will take place Saturday, Dec. 19. The card will start at 8 p.m. ET, with Alvarez and Smith expected to take their ring walks at about 11 p.m. ET, depending on the lengths of the earlier fights.
How to watch Canelo vs. Smith The Canelo vs. Smith fight will stream live globally on DAZN to more than 200 countries and territories (excluding Mexico, where it will be shown on TV Azteca).
Those interested in watching the fight can find DAZN on a number of different systems, including, but not limited to, Amazon Fire TV/stick, Android, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, iOS, Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Roku, Xbox Series S/X and Xbox One. Viewers can also find it on DAZN.com using browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari.
