WBA super middleweight champion Callum ‘Mundo’ Smith 27-0 (19) is out to prove that size matters when he takes on Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez 53-1-2 (36) at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday night.
British boxer Smith, 30, was last in action in November last year when he outpointed John Ryder, while Mexican superstar Alvarez, also 30, is coming off an 11th round knockout of WBO light heavyweight champion Sergiy Kovalev in the same month.
“In my opinion, no, he’s not a super middleweight,” Smith told ESPN. “Yeah, he’s been there before, he fought Kovalev, but if you look at the champions at super middleweight, they’re all big guys…
“But I’m not just a big lump, I’ve got skills and ability, too; I’ve shown I belong at a world level. If I can use the size and ability, I’ve got the beating of Canelo at 168 pounds.”
Alvarez was leading Kovalev six rounds to four on two of the judges’ scorecards at the time of the stoppage, while the third judge had the fight even.
“There were parts of the fight where he wasn’t special and Kovalev was a bit lazy, which helped Canelo and maybe that was his plan to get him late on,” Smith said.
“Kovalev is a very good fighter, a tough fighter, but Canelo did what Canelo does and deserves respect for that win.
“But he didn’t dominate every round against Kovalev, and there are positives to take from it for me and it shows you have to respect his power. Stylistically, I’m different, and I believe I can do what it takes to beat Alvarez if I perform to the best of my ability.
“You have to utilize what you are good at and it’s no good being the taller boxer if you are not going to use it to your advantage.
“I’m sure he can cut the ring down and I will have to work on that. But I believe I have reached this level because of my skills and ability… I can beat him. I think he’s a better 160 fighter than he is at 168 and a good big ‘un beats a small little ‘un.”
Smith was given just four weeks’ notice for the fight after Alvarez was embroiled in litigation with his former promoter Golden Boy and broadcaster DAZN. Once those legal issues were resolved, Alvarez moved quickly to secure an opponent.
Despite the short notice, Smith says he has remained in the gym throughout the global coronavirus pandemic as he awaited his opportunity to return to the ring.
“I just wanted to finish this year with a fight, I didn’t think it would be Canelo,” Smith said. “But then things changed. The Canelo fight had been mentioned a couple times before, so I just didn’t expect to get it until it was announced. I’ve been preparing regardless of Canelo, working hard in the gym throughout this year.”
In his last fight Smith struggled at times against Ryder, who he defeated by scores of 117-111 and 116-112 twice. He knows it wasn’t his strongest performance but believes that at his best, he defeats Alvarez.
“He’s a very good fighter: he can box on the back foot, he’s got good head movement, he’s got good lateral movement, he’s smart, he’s strong and I will be prepared for the hardest fight of my career, but I believe I’ve got the beating of him,” said Smith.
“If I deliver the best of my ability, I beat him.”
