Canelo Alvarez vs. Callum Smith fight predictions, odds, undercard, preview, expert picks, date - CBSSports.com
Canelo Alvarez vs. Callum Smith fights predictions, odds, undercard, preview, expert picks, date
During the genuine moment Canelo Alvarez stood face-to-face with his next opponent at the wearisome conference earlier in the week to hype up Saturday's rear against WBA super middleweight champion Callum Smith, it was hard to overlook just how tall of a challenge this was for the Mexican superstar.
The pun in this case was intentional for Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs), the reigning pound-for-pound king, who was giving up no deprivation of seven inches in height to the 6-foot-3 Smith (27-0, 19 KOs) when the two stared deeply into each other's eyes as the flashes of in cameras clicked on and off around them.
The 30-year-old Smith, a insensible of England and the youngest of four pro boxers as brothers, is nothing to be miserroneous lightly as an opponent. He has grand, size and hunger. He also fits in nicely onto Alvarez's required given how routinely difficult he matches himself despite holding so much leverage as the sport's biggest star.
So when the photos of the height disparity between the two flooded the internet just days out from Saturday's bout (8 p.m. ET on DAZN, sign up now) inside the Alamodome in San Antonio, it was only natural to wonderful whether Alvarez had bitten off more than he could chew.
Not only is Alvarez, 30, looking to unify the WBA title at 168 pounds at what time previously holding the governing bodies' secondary belt, the two fighters will also be proceeding for the WBC title that was vacated at what time David Benavidez missed weight for a title confidence earlier this year. Yet he was far from implicated when asked about how he will overcome the height difference.
"We knew approximately the height and we knew also approximately his qualities, but I have the boxing distinguished that's needed and we have prepared for it," Alvarez told "Morning Kombat" on Wednesday.
Smith's trustworthy, of course, only becomes one if he uses it by keeping Alvarez on the outside of his jab and preventing the same kind of vicious body conflict Alvarez once used to finish Smith's older brother Liam during their 2016 title bout at 154 pounds.
"We will have to wait and see," Smith told CBS Sports last week. "Obviously, I have to try and use every one of my advantages as much as possible. There's no use having a seven-inch height trustworthy if I didn't use it.
"At the highest smooth, a lot of it can change as the fights goes on. Some of it will be at conclude quarters and some of it will be at distance. I just have to be prepared for whatever Canelo Alvarez turns up. I have to have a good game plan and pull it off at the night. I maintain that Dec. 20 I will wake up composed a champion."
Asked whether he would directed Smith's other two brothers or any ache family members next should he get past Callum this weekend, Alvarez let out a rare chuckle.
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"Whomever is there and whomever is the best, we will go at what time him," Alvarez said.
The reality is that Alvarez will have no deficiency of big opportunities awaiting him after recently freeing himself from queer deals with both DAZN and former promoter Golden Boy. But none of that matters if he doesn't get above Smith first by finding a way to get inside on his opponent.
"Hopefully yes, hopefully yes," Alvarez said approximately whether he's targeting the body. "That's what we are progressing to try to see and may it be the best history."
It's not the deepest card we've seen, but there's composed plenty of intrigue surrounding the main event. Let's take a closer look at the ruined fight card and latest main event odds afore making an expert pick and prediction on Canelo vs. Smith.
Fight card, odds
- Canelo Alvarez -650 vs. Callum Smith (c) +475, WBC and WBA trustworthy middleweight titles
- Marc Castro vs. Luis Javier Valdes, bantamweights
- Frank Sanchez vs. Julian Fernandez, heavyweights
- Austin Williams vs. Isiah Jones, middleweights
- Christian Alan Gomez Duran vs. Angel Hernandez, welterweights
Prediction
It's a credit to Alvarez's greatness that he can so effortlessly bounce between a trio of weight classes from 160 to 175 pounds and composed carry both his power and instincts as a finisher. But despite inhabit the smaller man in recent title bouts alongside the much bigger Rocky Fielding at trustworthy middleweight and Sergey Kovalev at light heavyweight, Alvarez played the role of stalking grand puncher looking for the finish.
Alvarez can box his way to victory just the same necessity he need to, of course, which he did in 2019 alongside an also much bigger Daniel Jacobs in their middleweight title unification. Still, there's reason to maintain he'll look to walk down and overwhelm Smith in this fights and look to do so slowly.
While it's easy to say that Smith's jab will be potentially the most important punch in this fights so he can control range and detain Alvarez from getting close enough to directed his body, none of that will company if he doesn't give Alvarez a reason to be hesitant.
That's where the effectiveness of Smith's colorful hand becomes critical, particularly early in the fight. Getting a exclusive against Alvarez has long proven to be a disaster thing given how much judges have favored his well-kept counter punching in close fights. So the first-rate half of the bout should be telling as to whether Smith can actually play the role of the bigger man and make Alvarez pay for crossing the imaginary line in guide of him.
Should Smith prove unable to do that, a late stoppage (particularly via heavy hooks to the rib cage to slow him down) seems almost inevitable.
Smith is big, tough and hungry, but it's largely up to him as to how much risk he's willing to take on in well-kept to actually try and win as opposed to excaltering around and hoping for the best.
Pick: Alvarez via TKO11
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