Undefeated Smith (23-0-1 13 KO’s) defends his World Title against Mexican pound-for-pound star Canelo (47-1-1 33 KO’s) this Saturday (17th) live on BoxNation. That strategy started to pay dividends in the seventh round, where Alvarez knocked Smith down for the very first time in his career. What De La Hoya doesn’t seem to realize is that forgiving fight fans would respect Alvarez more if he got knocked out by Golovkin than if he doesn’t fight him. “I did hit him with some jabs and right hands, but to be more competitive I needed better timing, and my timing was off”.
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Strengthening Smith’s argument he is being overlooked, Alvarez has again discussed a potential fight with WBC, WBA and IBF middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, one which would be the biggest in the sport. I believe his people are going the Manny Pacquiao route and hyping him up as a feared beast on HBO but not willing to risk him by putting him in against Canelo or Ward.
The end came in round nine, when Canelo dug in another jarring body punch to send Smith to the canvas for the full count of ten to call a halt to the proceedings at 2 minutes 28 seconds of the round. “We want it to be all-time”.
Brave Smith said: “If I got offered the fight, yes, obviously I’d take it”. I thought he was very strong at the beginning and felt I had to put the body work in.
“He’s gonna have to deal with that, but I can’t really expect American fans to pick me to win when I’ve never fought in America”.
Smith’s camp had threatened to pull out of the fight and go shopping had Alvarez failed to make the super-welter limit for the first time since defeat to Floyd Mayweather in 2013.
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.
“I will say this one more time”.
He added on the possibility of a mega-fight with Golovkin: ‘I fear no one, I am the best fighter right now.
The two powerful punchers have been on a collision course since November, when Alvarez won his title from Miguel Cotto.
There was success for Smith in the fourth and the fifth when he pinned Alvarez to the ropes and clipped him with two big right hands. The venue just so happens to be Cowboys Stadium too, meaning the reception Canelo is due to receive will be a good look for the promotion.
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“We’re a team. I’m not going to blame my promoter or anyone else”.
