Results: Canelo outclasses Smith, wins world titles in fourth weight class

Callum Smith was outclassed by Canelo Alvarez, who rolled to victory via wide decision.

Canelo Alvarez picked up two world titles at 168 pounds, making him a four-division titlist with a victory over Callum Smith in tonight’s DAZN main event from San Antonio.

Canelo (54-1-2, 36 KO) won on wide scores of 117-111, 119-109, and 119-109. Bad Left Hook had the fight 119-109, as well, on a pair of unofficial score cards.

The 30-year-old Alvarez, who hadn’t fought since Nov. 2019 when he won a world title from Sergey Kovalev at 175 pounds, had it pretty much entirely his way here, punishing Smith (27-1, 19 KO) as the fight went on. Smith had his moments, but too often failed to use his extreme height advantage as an advantage, and never managed to keep Alvarez truly at best; instead, Canelo really found it relatively easy to walk Smith down and put the pressure on.

Smith, 30, was hurt a few times in the fight but never in major danger, though he was warned by trainer Joe Gallagher after the ninth round that he had to do more or he was going to stop the bout. And to Smith’s credit, he did keep trying to find the big shot, but it just wasn’t there. Smith is a good fighter, but this came down to the famed “levels,” and Canelo is just a better fighter, whose tactics and execution were simply superior.

“Smith is a great fighter, but as you see, I did a great job,” Canelo said through a translator. “I’m the best in the world. I showed what I am. I feel great at 168. I don’t want to fight with the scale (at 160). I want to unify, I want all the belts. It doesn’t matter who is there.”

Asked about possibly fighting Gennadiy Golovkin for a third time in 2021, Canelo didn’t commit either way, but definitely didn’t shut the door on the idea. Golovkin fought and won on Friday evening in Florida.

“I don’t run from anybody. I fight against the best. If he wants to fight, I’ll take it. I fight against the best. I feel more mature, I feel better. This is one of my best (performances), but not the best.”