After over a year of absence, Canelo Alvarez’s return to action couldn’t have been more brilliant: with a masterful performance, the Mexican 30-year-old fighter outclassed previously undefeated Callum Smith in San Antonio’s Alamodome, winning in 12 rounds via unanimous decision.
Alvarez captured Smith’s full WBA belt and the vacant WBC title in the Super Middleweight division.
“I did a great job after 13 months of layoff. I’m so happy” Canelo said. “I’m the best in the world. Through the third round, I tried to see what he brings in terms of skills but I showed what I am.”
Boxing’s pound-for-pound king confirmed his supremacy winning a major world title in his fourth division.
The 5 ft 8 (173cm) Mexican superstar was never in trouble and dissipated Smith’s (6 ft 3, 191cm) huge advantage in height with ease, pinning the British fighter to the ropes, working the body, landing uppercuts and hard right hands.
“I feel great at 168. I don’t want to fight with a scale” Alvarez said. “Soon I will go for more” he added.
Asked whether he would take a third fight against rival Gennadiy Golovkin, who just defended his IBF title at 160 pounds, Alvarez answered with a smile and rolled his eyes: “I don’t run from nobody. I just showed that I fought against the best. If he is going to take the fight, I will take it. But I showed the world that I fight against the best.”
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