(Photos - Ed Mulholland/Matchroom)
Mexican superstar, four division world champion and ten-time world champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (54-1-2, 36 KO's) of Guadalajara, Mexico was dominant in winning a unanimous decision over Liverpool, England's Callum Smith (27-1, 19 KOs) Saturday night at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas to unify the WBA Super and vacant WBC World Super-Middleweight titles. Canelo also picks up the Ring Magazine title.
Canelo was brilliant throughout the fight in dominating Smith. The Mexican superstar pretty much had his way all twelve rounds as he backed Smith all throughout the fight and connected with solid punches. It appeared as the fight was on the verge to be stopped as Canelo threw everything, splitting Smith's guard in route to a decision win. The judges scored the fight 119-109, 119-109, and 117-111.
With the win Canelo now has options and now has 2 of the major sanctioning titles at 168. Other champions include IBF's Calen Plant and WBO's Billy Joe Saunders. Another potential matchup at 168 includes former WBC champion undefeated David Benavidez.
The fight that the public continues to demand for Canelo is a third fight with Gennadiy Golovkin. Canelo is 1-0-1 against Golovkin as both fights were close.
Other Bouts
Fresno, California's amateur standout featherweight Marc Castro (1-0,1 KO's) made his professional debut with a knockout over Luis Valdez. A short right followed by a right uppercut by Castro dropped Valdes in the second round. The young prospect finished off Valdes in the third scoring a knockdown as the referee reached a ten count at
Cuban heavyweight Frank Sanchez (17-0, 13 KO's) scored a nasty knockout over Tijuana, Mexico's Julian Fernandez . Sanchez's is a stablemate of Canelo Alvarez as he is trained by Eddie Reynoso. The Cuban was the superior fighter throughout the fight as Fernandez showed bravado. However a crushing right hand by Sanchez sent Fernandez through the ropes and out of the ring as the referee immediately waived it at 1:35.
Super featherweight Raymond Ford (8-0, 4 KO's) was tested against Mexican Juan Antonio Lopez (15-7, 6 KO's) as he scored a seventh round knockout. A short right by Ford in the closing seconds of the first round dropped Lopez. However in the closing seconds of the third Lopez backed Ford. The Mexican began to pick it up as he attacked Ford late in the fourth. A right hook in the seventh did it as Lopez took a knee and seemed discouraged to get up as the referee reached a ten count at 1:14.
Prospect Austin "Ammo" Williams (7-0, 6 KOs) made quick work of Isiah Jones (). A left hand stunned Jones as Williams attacked and pinned him against the ropes forcing the referee to step in and stop the fight at of the opening round.
Welterweight Christian Gomez (19-2-1, 16 KOs) of Guadalajara, Mexico scored a third round knockout over Angel Hernandez (17-16-2, 11 KOs) of McAllen, Texas. Gomez connected solidly in the third dropping Hernandez as the referee waived it at 1:54.
In the opening bout at The Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, undefeated super featherweights Alexis Molina (8-0-1, 5 KOs) out of Guadalajara, Mexico and Robert Greenwood (5-0-1, 2 KOs) from Frankfurt, Indiana went toe to toe in going four rounds and fighting to a draw. The scores read 39-37 for Molina and 37-37 and 37-37.
Follow Miguel on Twitter @MigMaravilla
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