CANELO ALVAREZ proved too precise and powerful as he dominated Callum Smith over 12 rounds.
Canelo cemented his place atop of the mythical pound-for-pound rankings and emerged as a fully fledged four-division champion.
He walked away with Smith’s WBA super-middleweight title and handed the brave and resilient Brit his first career defeat.
Here SunSport rund down the fight round-by-round.
ROUND 1
Height difference is evident early on as the fight starts cagey.
Canelo lands a straight right to the body in what is the first clean punch of the fight.
Smith is backed up against the ropes and blocks a right hand.
ROUND 2
Canelo walks forward and lands a right hand to the body.
The Mexican lets his hands go with Smith on the ropes but the champion shows off a tight defence.
Smith pawing with the jab whereas Canelo’s is landing with mean intentions.
ROUND 3
Canelo looking for the left hook but it’s telegraphed by the champion.
Smith is forced to let his hands go as he tries to beat off Alvarez.
Canelo lands a big right hand down the middle then slips two shots coming back at him – showing utter class.
ROUND 4
Smith comes out firing his jab more but gets countered with a hook.
Canelo letting his hands go with Smith backed up as body shots land.
Alvarez finds home with a big one-two combination and follows it up with an uppercut which forces Smith to hold.
ROUND 5
Canelo slips and rolls under Smith’s shots just oozing class.
Smith finds himself backed up and takes a body shot.
Canelo ends the round with a solid check hook as it’s all one-way traffic.
ROUND 6
Heavy looking right hook lands for Canelo, who is bashing up the Brit.
Smith backed to the ropes with Canelo landing power punches trying to find home with a clean shot.
The champion is looking overwhelmed and trailing by a long shot.
ROUND 7
Smith lands a left hook to the body of his own.
It causes Canelo to retaliate with his own barrage of punches as he comes forward but Smith defends well.
Big uppercut breaks through Smith’s guard as he sits on the ropes – the best shot of the fight so far.
ROUND 8
Left hook, followed by a right uppercut whizzes in for Canelo.
Smith fires off a combination but Canelo looks so comfortable and barley bothered.
Both men have a trade off with Smith’s back against the ropes but Alvarez is the quicker and more meaningful puncher.
ROUND 9
Smith comes out firing but Canelo bops and weaves.
A big right hook rocks Smith back and the ropes help him stay on balance.
Left uppercut just misses for Canelo but he batters Smith with right hands to close out a dominant round for Alvarez.
ROUND 10
Right hook to the head then body lands for Canelo, a beautiful combination punch.
Smith again finds himself backed up and shipping more punishment.
Canelo has not taken his foot off the pedal, constantly pressuring and coming forward.
ROUND 11
Smith on the back foot again as he starts the round in survival mode.
Canelo looking for the right hook over the top – Smith is fighting back but nothing is putting a dent in Alvarez.
A right hook backs Smith up but he makes it into the 12th and final round.
ROUND 12
Overhand right bounces off Smith’s chin.
It causes the first clinch of the fight not long after and the fans boo!
Canelo goes looking for the KO but Smith stays resilient and avoid getting stopped.
DECISION
Judges score the bout 119-109, 119-109 and 117-111 all to Canelo.
He says: “I did a great job after 13 months out.
“Smith is a great fighter but I did a great job. I am so happy.”
