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As super middleweight titleholder Callum Smith nears the biggest opportunity of his career, when he faces Canelo Alvarez this weekend, Smith makes it clear that he’s not coming into this fight just looking to cash a check. In fact, Smith tells RingTV that he’s a winner through and through, and aims to prove that against the Mexican star.
Of course, Smith says the circumstances surrounding this fight haven’t been ideal — but not specifically referencing the global pandemic so much as the four weeks notice he had to prepare for this fight. Luckily Smith says he wasn’t just lounging around all this time, he’s been working in the gym, just not specifically preparing for Canelo until he got the official word he landed the fight a few weeks back.
How to Watch Canelo vs Smith
Date: Saturday, Dec. 19 | Start Time: 8 pm ET
Location: Alamodome - San Antonio, TX
Stream: DAZN
Online Coverage: BadLeftHook.com
“If I’d been sitting around doing nothing and got four weeks’ notice, then I would have passed on it...I’ve taken this fight because I believe that I’m ready and I’m in good shape. I believe that I’ll be able to go in there and do what I do. I’m good enough to win the fight, I’m a winner, and I don’t take fights for a payday. I’m here to win, and if you’d seen me training over the last few weeks you’d know that I’m not just here to make up the numbers.”
Smith also knows that despite coming into this fight as the solid underdog it’s familiar territory for him, and says knowing what he’s capable of gives him all the confidence he needs to upend the odds. But Smith is also aware that he can’t afford any slip ups in this outing, acknowledging that if he shows up like he did against John Ryder then he’ll surely lose against Canelo. Despite that, Smith says he’s always turned up for the biggest moments of his career and expects this outing to be no different.
Analyzing Canelo’s style, Smith explains that Canelo isn’t the same fighter who used to throw bursts of strong combinations, now looking to land more singular power shots. And acknowledging that Canelo has shown a little bit of everything over his last 10 fights, Smith says he bascially just has to be ready for any and everything inside the ring. For Smith, he believes he has both the size and the ability to take Canelo out, and is looking to demonstrate exactly that this Saturday.