The best pound-for-pound fighter in the world will step back into the ring for the first time since last November this weekend. Canelo Alvarez is the biggest draw in the sport, and boxing has needed him to return in a big way. Alvarez (53-1-2 with 36 KOs) was supposed to fight Billy Joe Saunders on Cinco de Mayo weekend, but that fight was called off due to the coronavirus. However, Alvarez will fight at least once this calendar year when he vies for Callum Smith’s (27-0 with 19 KOs) two super middleweight belts.
When: Saturday, December 19, 2020
Where: Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
Why: WBA and The Ring super middleweight titles
Canelo Alvarez vs Callum Smith Betting Odds
Canelo Alvarez -569
Callum Smith +417
Total Rounds: 9.5
Although these boxers are fighting at Smith’s natural super middleweight division, he is a sizable underdog per the boxing betting odds. Alvarez’s reputation proceeds him, so if you are looking to bet on boxing in December, you are likely to place a wager on this fight. You would need to wager $569 to win $100 on Alvarez at this price.
As the fight nears, there will be decision betting too. You will be able to bet on whether the fight is decided by KO, TKO, or decision, and you can bet on which boxer will win the fight in that fashion as well.
Canelo Alvarez vs Callum Smith Preview
Alvarez has been the pride of Mexico over the last decade. He is one of the greatest Mexican boxers of all-time, and he has always tried to put on a show for his home country. That hasn’t changed over the course of his career, and he turned pro at just 15 years old due to his dominance in the junior ranks.
He started claiming minor titles before he was 18 years old. Alvarez made himself into a name to watch in the late 2000s, but it still took him far too long before he received his first title bout. His record was 35-0-1 going into his WBC light middleweight championship showdown with Matthew Hatton. Alvarez secured a unanimous decision at just 20 years old to grab the belt, and he started to showcase his power in his title defenses.
Those performances led to him facing Austin Trout in April 2013. Alvarez scored a unanimous decision to add on the WBA and The Ting light middleweight titles, setting up a big payday fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. Mayweather had more trouble with Alvarez than any other boxer outside of Oscar De La Hoya, only securing a majority decision. That has been Alvarez’s only loss in his career.
Alvarez has been extremely impressive since his lone defeat. He is now a four-division world champion, moving up and down in weight classes to add more titles to his resume. He has secured victories over Amir Khan, Miguel Cotto, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., and most controversially, Gennady Golovkin. While Alvarez could have lost both of his fights with GGG, he instead secured a majority decision victory and a draw.
Callum Smith has yet to lose a fight in his professional career. He has been a super middleweight since turning pro, moving up the ranks in the weight class. Smith made a name for himself in the World Boxing Super Series in 2017 and 2018, defeating Erik Skoglund, Nieky Holzken, and George Groves to win the WBA and The Ring super middleweight belts.
Smith has since defended those straps twice. In June 2019, Smith didn’t need much time beating Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam. He won a third-round TKO in Madison Square Garden, showing that he had the power needed to draw bigger crowds. In November of last year, Smith went the distance against John Ryder, but he secured a unanimous decision. This will be his toughest test by a mile though.
Log into BookMaker to bet on Canelo Alvarez vs Callum Smith. BookMaker is the nation's leading online sportsbook and the premier site to bet on boxing.
