Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez vs. Callum Smith - 19 December 2020

[Ruthless-RKO]

[mickey1975]

Oh come on mate, multimillion $$ opportunities don't come around often enough for the likes of Smith, to be choosy about them when he gets them.

Smith reputedly made a fortune in the World series thing or whatever it was called. Certainly enough that he could turn any fight down where the terms are such he would complain about them after the event/fact. We'll see what happens but "if only I had longer to prepare" is used as an excuse should he lose, I'll not be impressed. Smith is quality though and I think he'll do well.

Yeh, he made upto £5m-6m just for the final.

Around £1.5m for the semi..

oh wow fcking hell, that's serious wonga

But he probably didn’t.

[Cent0089]

Are there some recent training videos of Canelo and Smith ?

[tonyevs]

Whats so wrong with proper notice and preparation for a fight?

In normal times nothing - but these are not normal times. The rematch with Whyte v Povetkin got scuppered .. Garcia v Campbell too; so arranging fights with too long a notice about now is not working out too well.
Canelo typically for the last 10 years only fights twice a year; he has not fought this year once, and is understandably very keen to get fight. So considering that he has only now sorted out the mess with ODLH etc, a short notice fight is acceptable.

Smith being so much taller than Canelo certainly has potential to cause big problems if he can keep it long. Canelo it appears is expecting Smith to come at him, and for a much taller guy coming forward having to punch down against a great counter-puncher like Canelo it seems that would really make things easier for him.

Its worth just reminding yourself who Canelo has fought for the last 10 years. I cant think of another active world champion with as an impressive CV. I can`t imagine Smith posing any serious problems, and getting battered before retiring after the 8-9th round.

[Jimmy2020]

Smith should get watching Wladimir Klitschko fights and ape him to the nth degree.

[Counter-puncher]

Smith should get watching Wladimir Klitschko fights and ape him to the nth degree.

hmmm. relative to his frame I'm not sure Smith has the lightness-of-foot that allowed Wlad to always keep that distance. Smith's footwork has always seemed a bit clunky to me, Wlad was a pretty good mover for his size/frame

[Delta Jay]

Who punches harder? As in single, one shot bombs away power?

[Jimmy2020]

Smith should get watching Wladimir Klitschko fights and ape him to the nth degree.

hmmm. relative to his frame I'm not sure Smith has the lightness-of-foot that allowed Wlad to always keep that distance. Smith's footwork has always seemed a bit clunky to me, Wlad was a pretty good mover for his size/frame

You are not wrong there. He'll need to try though. My main point is he needs to immediately shut things down inside which goes against his nature. He's a good inside fighter for his height but it's a fools errand against Canelo.

Canelo is top, top drawer btw. Going the distance and taking four or five rounds would be a great night's work for Smith.

[Counter-puncher]

Smith should get watching Wladimir Klitschko fights and ape him to the nth degree.

hmmm. relative to his frame I'm not sure Smith has the lightness-of-foot that allowed Wlad to always keep that distance. Smith's footwork has always seemed a bit clunky to me, Wlad was a pretty good mover for his size/frame

My main point is he needs to immediately shut things down inside which goes against his nature. He's a good inside fighter for his height but it's a fools errand against Canelo..

absolutely. I can't see him doing it though mate, quite the opposite, not hard to imagine him getting badly hurt or sparked trying to uncoil those long arms into a power shot at close-ish range >>>>> overhand right counter >>>> go join the fairies for a minute Callum, those lights look pretty when they're blinking away

so, I don't see his footwork being able to consistently create or preserve distance, and i can't see him holding much (a few sessions watching Fury at it would be useful, turn that lunging right hand from the outside into a collar hold).

[Jimmy2020]

hmmm. relative to his frame I'm not sure Smith has the lightness-of-foot that allowed Wlad to always keep that distance. Smith's footwork has always seemed a bit clunky to me, Wlad was a pretty good mover for his size/frame

My main point is he needs to immediately shut things down inside which goes against his nature. He's a good inside fighter for his height but it's a fools errand against Canelo..

absolutely. I can't see him doing it though mate, quite the opposite, not hard to imagine him getting badly hurt or sparked trying to uncoil those long arms into a power shot at close-ish range >>>>> overhand right counter >>>> go join the fairies for a minute Callum, those lights look pretty when they're blinking away

so, I don't see his footwork being able to consistently create or preserve distance, and i can't see him holding much (a few sessions watching Fury at it would be useful, turn that lunging right hand from the outside into a collar hold).

In short...you think he's no chance.

[Counter-puncher]

having thought about it, not really. like you say finishing the fight with 3-4 rounds won would be a major achievement.

but then, I've under-estimated Smith before, quite badly up until the WBSS semi, and it's not as though I'm known for my impartiality regarding our cousins on Merseyside, so.....

just waiting for the Gallagher tactical masterclass to prove me wrong.

[Controversial]

At 6'3" a lot will depend on Smith making weight as he's getting older and being strong when fight night comes. He punches hard but so did Kovalev. I'd like to see Smith put up a good show but I can see him being worn down and stopped late in the fight.

[Ezzard]

Agree with the above. Hope Smith has been training for this...that he's on the same PEDs as Alvarez.

[Spud]

When I first heard that Callum was matched to fight the “cheating mexican” I was genuinely excited as I feel Smith is going to be Canelo’s hardest opponent.

I really want Smith to win but feel withe fight being in America, Smith will need a KO to get a draw.

To be serious I feel Smith will have us all screaming rematch as I think he will get cheated out of the winby the judges.

[Jimmy2020]

Do we know anything about rehydration clauses yet?

[Teddy's Toupee]

Smith looks like he's just about reached his "vinegars" there.

[THEBUTCH]

Only a C*** like Smith would regurgitate Nelson back into circulation when Johnny gave boxing fans the ultimate present and retired.

Anyway, Alverez breaks Smith in half and Callum moves up to light heavyweight citing weight making difficulties even though had he won he'd have continued for more fights

[Ruthless-RKO]

Glad we won’t have the Sky team/commentary for this.

[Ruthless-RKO]

“I am thrilled to be back at the Alamodome and very thankful to be fighting in front of my fans on December 19,” said Alvarez, who fights in the Lone Star State for the first time since 2016. “I have great memories of my previous bouts in Texas, and I expect this to be a special fight to close out the year.”

[liamlion]

Whats so wrong with proper notice and preparation for a fight?

In normal times nothing - but these are not normal times. The rematch with Whyte v Povetkin got scuppered .. Garcia v Campbell too; so arranging fights with too long a notice about now is not working out too well.
Canelo typically for the last 10 years only fights twice a year; he has not fought this year once, and is understandably very keen to get fight. So considering that he has only now sorted out the mess with ODLH etc, a short notice fight is acceptable.

Smith being so much taller than Canelo certainly has potential to cause big problems if he can keep it long. Canelo it appears is expecting Smith to come at him, and for a much taller guy coming forward having to punch down against a great counter-puncher like Canelo it seems that would really make things easier for him.

Its worth just reminding yourself who Canelo has fought for the last 10 years. I cant think of another active world champion with as an impressive CV. I can`t imagine Smith posing any serious problems, and getting battered before retiring after the 8-9th round.

Prior to the press conference to announce the actual fight against Smith, Canelo and his team still hadn’t even told Smith he had got the fight. That is a whole new level of shithousery and has fook all to do with Covid19.

The difference between Canelo-Smith and the examples that you gave of Whyte-Povetkin and Garcia-Campbell is that each and everyone of those fighters you named knew who they were fighting when those fights were formally announced. Unlike Smith, none of them were part of some lottery to win the fight and kept in limbo. And unlike Smith, none of them had to check the internet to watch a live press conference to see if they had got the fight...

Covid19 cancels fights. It doesn’t prevent fights being negotiated and announced with proper notice given to each fighter, whether that is formal or informal notice.

Agree to disagree I suppose.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Callum Smith: Canelo's Best Days Are at 160, At 168 I Beat Anybody!

"I thought that couldn't be me when I saw it because I hadn't agreed anything then. They made us an offer a few hours after he put that out but I wasn't happy with it. Thankfully we agreed to the fight in the end but even after I was still checking his Twitter to make sure it was me," Smith told Daily Mail.

If Smith wins, some will view the outcome as a massive upset. Others view the unbeaten Brit as a very live dog.

Smith believes Canelo's best weight is 160-pounds - which he aims to prove next month.

"It depends on how you rate me. If you think I'm good you won't be surprised. If you don rate me you'll probably put this one up there. Canelo's best days are at middle. At 168-pounds I beat anybody. I'm the best in the world at this weight," Smith said.

[tonyevs]

Whats so wrong with proper notice and preparation for a fight?

In normal times nothing - but these are not normal times. The rematch with Whyte v Povetkin got scuppered .. Garcia v Campbell too; so arranging fights with too long a notice about now is not working out too well.
Canelo typically for the last 10 years only fights twice a year; he has not fought this year once, and is understandably very keen to get fight. So considering that he has only now sorted out the mess with ODLH etc, a short notice fight is acceptable.

Smith being so much taller than Canelo certainly has potential to cause big problems if he can keep it long. Canelo it appears is expecting Smith to come at him, and for a much taller guy coming forward having to punch down against a great counter-puncher like Canelo it seems that would really make things easier for him.

Its worth just reminding yourself who Canelo has fought for the last 10 years. I cant think of another active world champion with as an impressive CV. I can`t imagine Smith posing any serious problems, and getting battered before retiring after the 8-9th round.

Prior to the press conference to announce the actual fight against Smith, Canelo and his team still hadn’t even told Smith he had got the fight. That is a whole new level of shithousery and has fook all to do with Covid19.

The difference between Canelo-Smith and the examples that you gave of Whyte-Povetkin and Garcia-Campbell is that each and everyone of those fighters you named knew who they were fighting when those fights were formally announced. Unlike Smith, none of them were part of some lottery to win the fight and kept in limbo. And unlike Smith, none of them had to check the internet to watch a live press conference to see if they had got the fight...

Covid19 cancels fights. It doesn’t prevent fights being negotiated and announced with proper notice given to each fighter, whether that is formal or informal notice.

Agree to disagree I suppose.

I dont really see the finer details making much difference aside from it being polite or professional; and in boxing I dont even think that that actually makes any difference ... everyone in boxing will break their word, contracts etc if and when it suits them to.
The bottom line is Smith has known he is on the short-list to face Canelo since July. Yes Canelo holds the cards - he is the attraction/draw here so Smith cant argue with that; Canelo can get the same money facing any of those on the short list .. unless Smith wins he will never earn as much again. I agree its not perfect; its not polite .. but its the boxing business and Smith is seen merely as a guy they are paying very well to deliver his world title belt to Canelo.

We agree covid cancels fights. So arranging fights short notice seems the best way at moment when Canelo is very keen to fight before the end of the year. As said - providing 3-4 months notice only complicates things; expense of promoting and the fight camps, to get called off a month before its due .. that then makes it more likely, as we seen with Garcia v Campbell, that the fight gets postponed instead of a new opponent, when Canelo wants to fight this year.

Its not ideal for sure; but during covid and the circumstances its as good as it can get.

[CaptainSpacerod]

Glad we won’t have the Sky team/commentary for this.

Who’s showing it ?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Glad we won’t have the Sky team/commentary for this.

Who’s showing it ?

DAZN in the UK. £1.99..

Gonna get it straight away on 2/12/20

[mickey1975]

It’s got to be bad for Sky. I don’t lose sleep over giving my sons mates £2 for the ice cream man. Canelo-Smith, Garcia-Campbell and for an extra £10 Crawford-Brook, Spence-Garcia etc.
I’ve just paid double that for Rachel Ball.