But this time at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, it was Canelo’s power and movement that decided a one-sided bout to inflict Smith’s first career defeat.
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The 26-year-old Mexican effortlessly dethroned Smith for the WBO junior welterweight championship by delivering a punishing blow to the body in the ninth round.
Alvarez dropped Smith with a big left hand to the body to remain on pace for a showdown with undefeated, unified middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, which could be held by September 2017.
With most of the arena behind him at the cavernous home of the Dallas Cowboys NFL team, Alvarez was in control from Round 1 against the gritty Smith.
It will be the first time the Liverpudlian has fought outside of the United Kingdom and he will face Canelo fresh off his 6 round knock-out victory over Amir Khan, in May. The Englishman, whom entered the bout with a record of 23 wins, zero losses, and 1 draw, with 13 of those wins coming by way of knockout, had had two title defenses already, and did not seem outwardly intimidated by the moment.
Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s co-star in one of history’s most lucrative fights three years ago subsequently jumped to middleweight, won a lineal title and gave it up rather than agreeing to a match with the 160-pound opponent with whom most fans wanted to see him rumble. “I was born for this, and even though many people may not like this, I am the best fighter right now”. Canelo was too good today, I needed better timing, my timing was off tonight’.
Smith’s response when I asked him was simply “I want it and I can beat him”. I fight the best and I want to fight the best, I am the best at this sport and Viva La Mexico!.
This is also the first time I’ve been back in America since I brought Joe Calzaghe here to fight Bernard Hopkins in 2008. He landed some good shots, particularly when he had Canelo up against the ropes, but Canelo was able to slow him down and wear him down as they moved deeper in the fight. While Smith did not land that one great shot that would stun Alvarez, “Canelo” took to wearing the Englishman down with body shots. “The weight is no issue anymore”, said Canelo via Fight News about an offer supposedly made to Golovkin’s promoters for a fight at some point.
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But despite all this, Canelo Alvarez proved, yet again, that he’s a fantastic fighter – an especially frustrating fact because it’s so easy to be disillusioned with the Mexican star and his handlers right now. “Like I said, I’m the best fighter right now”.
