Tag: liam smith

Fight Week: Canelo Alvarez and Billy Joe Saunders ready to rumble

FIGHT WEEK canelo alvarez and billy joe saunders are set to unify three of the four major 168-pound titles saturday at the dallas cowboys’ home stadium. *** MAGOMED KURBANOV (21-0, 13 KOs) VS. LIAM SMITH (29-2-1, 16 KOs) When : Friday, May 7 Where : …

FIGHT WEEK

canelo alvarez and billy joe saunders are set to unify three of the four major 168-pound titles saturday at the dallas cowboys’ home stadium.

***

MAGOMED KURBANOV (21-0, 13 KOs)
VS. LIAM SMITH (29-2-1, 16 KOs)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNN0ln8hFVQ

  • When: Friday, May 7
  • Where: Ekaterinburg, Russia
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+
  • Division: Junior middleweight
  • At stake: No titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Even
  • Also on the card: Eduard Skavynskyi vs. TBA, welterweights; Evgenii Liashkov vs. Mukhammad Shekhov, junior featherweights
  • Prediction: Kurbanov UD
  • Background: Kurbanov faces his toughest test against the veteran Smith. The 25-year-old prospect from Russia is a capable boxer-puncher who has been fighting in scheduled 10-rounders most of his career. He last fought this past November, when he stopped journeyman Dmitry Mikhaylenko in two rounds. His unanimous-decision victory over Diego Chavez in November 2019 might’ve been the most significant of his career. Kurbanov will be fighting Smith in his hometown of Ekaterinburg. Smith, a former 154-pound titleholder, had fought at 160 in his past two fights but is moving back down to pursue another title shot. The 32-year-old Liverpudlian is 3-0 since he lost a wide decision to then-junior middleweight titleholder Jaime Munguia, including a one-sided decision over Roberto Garcia in December 2019. That was his most-recent fight, meaning he will have been out of the ring for 17 months.

***

CANELO ALVAREZ (55-1-2, 37 KOs) VS.
BILLY JOE SAUNDERS (30-0, 14 KOs)

[mm-video type=video id=01f4sz8d39e8z1pj4njb playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01f4sz8d39e8z1pj4njb/01f4sz8d39e8z1pj4njb-d7969efccfefb7f2b315286972321a21.jpg]

  • When: Saturday, May 8
  • Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Super middleweight
  • At stake: Alvarez’s WBA and WBC, and Saunders WBO titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: Alvarez No. 2
  • Odds: Alvarez 6-1 favorite (BetMGM)
  • Also on the card: Elwin Soto vs. Katsunari Takayama, junior flyweights (for Soto’s WBO title); Kieron Conway vs. Souleymane Cissokho, junior middleweights; Frank Sanchez vs. Nagy Aguilera, heavyweights
  • Prediction: Alvarez KO 10
  • Background: Alvarez has said he wants to unify all four major 168-pound titles after winning two of them by easily outpointing Callum Smith this past December. A victory over the underdog Saunders would give him three pieces and set up a showdown for the undisputed championship against IBF titleholder Caleb Plant in September. The 30-year-old Mexican star last fought on Feb. 27, when he stopped overmatched mandatory challenger Avni Yildirim in three rounds. Thus, he will have been out of the ring for only 2½ months. Alvarez is 13-0-1 since he lost a wide decision to Floyd Mayweather in 2013, a period in which he has climbed to top of some pound-for-pound lists. Alvarez is 6-0 against British fighters. Saunders, 31, is a polished boxer with limited power who has won major titles in two divisions. He won his super middleweight belt by easily outpointing Shefat Isufi in May 2019 and has successfully defended twice. He stopped Marcelo Coceres in 11 rounds to win what had been a close fight in November 2019 and nearly shut out veteran Martin Murray this past December. Saunders has some notable victories – Chris Eubank Jr., Andy Lee, Willie Monroe Jr., David Lemieux and Murray – but he has never tangled with anyone near Alvarez’s ability.

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***

Also fighting this weekend: Junior lightweight Gadwin Rosa (11-1, 9 KOs) of Puerto Rico faces fellow prospect George Acosta of the Los Angeles in a scheduled 10-round bout in Kissimmee, Fla. on Telemundo.

 

See them: Canelo Alvarez’s 10 greatest knockouts

Here are the 10 greatest knockouts in Canelo Alvarez’s decorated career.

Canelo Alvarez has become one of the more polished boxers in the game, making him as complete a fighter as anyone.

However, as we know, the Mexican star can also crack. Alvarez (54-1-2) has stopped 36 opponents in his decorated career, one of the larger knockout totals among active fighters.

And, obviously, there are more to come. It appears he will defend his super middleweight belt against overmatched Avni Yildirm late next month, although we’re waiting for an announcement.

In the meantime let’s take a look back on 10 of the four-division titleholder’s most memorable stoppages, starting with his most-recent knockout and working our way back in time.

Enjoy!

See them: Canelo Alvarez’s 10 greatest knockouts

Here are the 10 greatest knockouts in Canelo Alvarez’s decorated career.

Canelo Alvarez has become one of the more polished boxers in the game, making him as complete a fighter as anyone.

However, as we know, the Mexican star can also crack. Alvarez (54-1-2) has stopped 36 opponents in his decorated career, one of the larger knockout totals among active fighters.

And, obviously, there are more to come. It appears he will defend his super middleweight belt against overmatched Avni Yildirm late next month, although we’re waiting for an announcement.

In the meantime let’s take a look back on 10 of the four-division titleholder’s most memorable stoppages, starting with his most-recent knockout and working our way back in time.

Enjoy!

Canelo the Ripper: Alvarez has been murderous vs. British foes

Canelo Alvarez is 5-0 against British fighters in his career and he’s favored to make it 6-0 against Callum Smith on Saturday.

Canelo Alvarez is an equal opportunity to destroyer.

The Mexican star has defeated opponents from nine countries in his last 25 fights, which we’ll call his elite period for the purposes of this article. The stretch begins with his first fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, a coming-out ninth-round knockout of Jose Miguel Cotto on the 2010 Floyd Mayweather-Shane Mosley card.

So what country has bore the brunt of his success the most? Well, if you count everyone he’s faced in his 56 pro fights, it’s Mexico followed by the United States because he fought mostly his countryman and neighbors to the north in the early years of his career.

If you count only those he has faced during his elite period, it’s the United Kingdom, where his opponent on Saturday in San Antonio – Liverpudlian Callum Smith – happens to reside.

Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs) has taken down all five of the British fighters he has faced, Matthew Hatton, Ryan Rhodes, Amir Khan, Liam Smith (Callum’s brother) and Rocky Fielding, the last four by knockout.

The U.S. also has five victims during that period – Shane Mosley, Josesito Lopez, Austin Trout, James Kirkland and Daniel Jacobs – but it also has the only man to defeat Alvarez, Floyd Mayweather.

So you’ll forgive British fans if Alvarez leaves them with an uneasy feeling. Callum Smith has already experienced from a close distance.

Callum Smith expects to fare better than his brother, Liam (left), who lost to Canelo Alvarez in 2016. AP Photo/LM Otero)

The youngest of the fighting Smith brothers could only watch while Alvarez knocked out older brother Liam in nine rounds in 2016, also in Texas. They fought before 50,000-plus at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, home of the Dallas Cowboys.

The younger Smith, who will be defending his super middleweight title, doesn’t look at his fight with Alvarez as an opportunity to avenge his brother’s setback or the honor of his country – he has too much at stake personally – but that certainly would add to a victory.

“Yes and no. It would be nice to get some revenge but this fight will be huge regardless,” Smith said. “It was tough to take at the time, it was [Liam’s] first loss. I think Liam knew he lost to a very good fighter.

“My brother had success on the night, but Canelo was huge for the weight at 154.”

Of course, a victory over Alvarez would be significant for British boxing. And Callum Smith probably has a better chance than his predecessors of pulling it off.

Hatton was a decent fight but a poor man’s version of his brother, Ricky. Ryan Rhodes was a fringe contender. Khan was an elite fighter but too small for Alvarez. Liam Smith is only a solid fighter and, as his brother said, he had physical disadvantages. And Fielding is another fringe contender.

Callum Smith (27-0, 19 KOs) isn’t going to be confused for Joe Calzaghe but he has a good skill set and will be the naturally bigger man in the ring on Saturday. If he can find a way to win, it would be one of the bigger upsets in recent years.

And it would be gratifying for his countrymen.

***

Here are two lists. One, the countries of opponents in each of his 56 fights, including the loss to Mayweather and a draw with Kazakhstani Gennadiy Golovkin in their first fight. And, two, the countries of his opponents during his 25-fight elite period. Alvarez’s record against each nation is included.

OVERALL (56 fights)

23 Mexico (22-0-1)

12 U.S. (11-1)

5 U.K. (5-0)

4 Argentina (4-0)

3 Puerto Rico (3-0)

2 Kazakhstan (1-0-1)

2 Russia (2-0)

1 Brazil (1-0)

1 Cuba (1-0)

1 Colombia (1-0)

1 Dominican Republic (1-0)

1 South Africa (1-0)

ELITE PERIOD (24 fights)

6 U.S. (5-1)

5 U.K. (5-0)

3 Mexico (3-0)

3 Puerto Rico (3-0)

2 Argentina (2-0)

2 Kazakhstan (1-0-1)

1 Cuba (1-0)

1 Russia (1-0)

1 South Africa (1-0)

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Canelo the Ripper: Alvarez has been murderous vs. British foes

Canelo Alvarez is 5-0 against British fighters in his career and he’s favored to make it 6-0 against Callum Smith on Saturday.

Canelo Alvarez is an equal opportunity to destroyer.

The Mexican star has defeated opponents from nine countries in his last 25 fights, which we’ll call his elite period for the purposes of this article. The stretch begins with his first fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, a coming-out ninth-round knockout of Jose Miguel Cotto on the 2010 Floyd Mayweather-Shane Mosley card.

So what country has bore the brunt of his success the most? Well, if you count everyone he’s faced in his 56 pro fights, it’s Mexico followed by the United States because he fought mostly his countryman and neighbors to the north in the early years of his career.

If you count only those he has faced during his elite period, it’s the United Kingdom, where his opponent on Saturday in San Antonio – Liverpudlian Callum Smith – happens to reside.

Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs) has taken down all five of the British fighters he has faced, Matthew Hatton, Ryan Rhodes, Amir Khan, Liam Smith (Callum’s brother) and Rocky Fielding, the last four by knockout.

The U.S. also has five victims during that period – Shane Mosley, Josesito Lopez, Austin Trout, James Kirkland and Daniel Jacobs – but it also has the only man to defeat Alvarez, Floyd Mayweather.

So you’ll forgive British fans if Alvarez leaves them with an uneasy feeling. Callum Smith has already experienced from a close distance.

Callum Smith expects to fare better than his brother, Liam (left), who lost to Canelo Alvarez in 2016. AP Photo/LM Otero)

The youngest of the fighting Smith brothers could only watch while Alvarez knocked out older brother Liam in nine rounds in 2016, also in Texas. They fought before 50,000-plus at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, home of the Dallas Cowboys.

The younger Smith, who will be defending his super middleweight title, doesn’t look at his fight with Alvarez as an opportunity to avenge his brother’s setback or the honor of his country – he has too much at stake personally – but that certainly would add to a victory.

“Yes and no. It would be nice to get some revenge but this fight will be huge regardless,” Smith said. “It was tough to take at the time, it was [Liam’s] first loss. I think Liam knew he lost to a very good fighter.

“My brother had success on the night, but Canelo was huge for the weight at 154.”

Of course, a victory over Alvarez would be significant for British boxing. And Callum Smith probably has a better chance than his predecessors of pulling it off.

Hatton was a decent fight but a poor man’s version of his brother, Ricky. Ryan Rhodes was a fringe contender. Khan was an elite fighter but too small for Alvarez. Liam Smith is only a solid fighter and, as his brother said, he had physical disadvantages. And Fielding is another fringe contender.

Callum Smith (27-0, 19 KOs) isn’t going to be confused for Joe Calzaghe but he has a good skill set and will be the naturally bigger man in the ring on Saturday. If he can find a way to win, it would be one of the bigger upsets in recent years.

And it would be gratifying for his countrymen.

***

Here are two lists. One, the countries of opponents in each of his 56 fights, including the loss to Mayweather and a draw with Kazakhstani Gennadiy Golovkin in their first fight. And, two, the countries of his opponents during his 25-fight elite period. Alvarez’s record against each nation is included.

OVERALL (56 fights)

23 Mexico (22-0-1)

12 U.S. (11-1)

5 U.K. (5-0)

4 Argentina (4-0)

3 Puerto Rico (3-0)

2 Kazakhstan (1-0-1)

2 Russia (2-0)

1 Brazil (1-0)

1 Cuba (1-0)

1 Colombia (1-0)

1 Dominican Republic (1-0)

1 South Africa (1-0)

ELITE PERIOD (24 fights)

6 U.S. (5-1)

5 U.K. (5-0)

3 Mexico (3-0)

3 Puerto Rico (3-0)

2 Argentina (2-0)

2 Kazakhstan (1-0-1)

1 Cuba (1-0)

1 Russia (1-0)

1 South Africa (1-0)

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Liam Williams needs less than a round to put Andrew Robinson away

Liam Williams stopped Andrew Robinson with a body shot in the first round of their scheduled 12-round middleweight bout in London.

Liam Williams reinforced his position as mandatory challenger to Demetrius Andrade middleweight title on Saturday.

The Welshman stopped Andrew Robinson with a left hook to the body on 1 minute, 28 seconds into their scheduled 12-round bout at the BT Sport Studio in London.

Both fighters suffered cuts on their heads from an accidental head clash moments before the stoppage.

“I wanted it to go a bit further, but we clashed heads and I saw blood dripping so I thought, ‘I need to end this now before it ends in a technical draw,'” Williams said.

“I’m mandatory challenger for WBO title to fight Demetrius Andrade, and it’s a case of when and where, I will be there. I want my opportunity next.”

Williams (23-2-1, 18 KOs) got the attention of Robinson (24-5-1, 7 KOs) about 10 seconds into the fight, when he seemed to stun the the Englishman with an overhand right hand.

Williams continued to attack but he shifted into another gear after the clash of heads, soon trapping Robinson in a corner and unloading a barrage of hard punches. They were capped by the body shot, which forced Robinson to his knees.

Robinson seemed be getting to his feet a split second be referee Marcus McDonnell reached the count of 10 but it was too late. The fight was stopped.

Williams has now won seven consecutive fights — all by knockout — since back-to-back losses to Liam Smith in 2017, the first because of a cut and the second by a majority decision.

Robinson had won three consecutive fights against second-level opposition going into the fight on Saturday.

Liam Williams needs less than a round to put Andrew Robinson away

Liam Williams stopped Andrew Robinson with a body shot in the first round of their scheduled 12-round middleweight bout in London.

Liam Williams reinforced his position as mandatory challenger to Demetrius Andrade middleweight title on Saturday.

The Welshman stopped Andrew Robinson with a left hook to the body on 1 minute, 28 seconds into their scheduled 12-round bout at the BT Sport Studio in London.

Both fighters suffered cuts on their heads from an accidental head clash moments before the stoppage.

“I wanted it to go a bit further, but we clashed heads and I saw blood dripping so I thought, ‘I need to end this now before it ends in a technical draw,'” Williams said.

“I’m mandatory challenger for WBO title to fight Demetrius Andrade, and it’s a case of when and where, I will be there. I want my opportunity next.”

Williams (23-2-1, 18 KOs) got the attention of Robinson (24-5-1, 7 KOs) about 10 seconds into the fight, when he seemed to stun the the Englishman with an overhand right hand.

Williams continued to attack but he shifted into another gear after the clash of heads, soon trapping Robinson in a corner and unloading a barrage of hard punches. They were capped by the body shot, which forced Robinson to his knees.

Robinson seemed be getting to his feet a split second be referee Marcus McDonnell reached the count of 10 but it was too late. The fight was stopped.

Williams has now won seven consecutive fights — all by knockout — since back-to-back losses to Liam Smith in 2017, the first because of a cut and the second by a majority decision.

Robinson had won three consecutive fights against second-level opposition going into the fight on Saturday.

Sam Eggington confident going into fight with Ted Cheeseman

San Eggington believes a victory over Ted Cheeseman on Aug. 1 will help positioning him for a world title shot.

Sam Eggington will be favored to beat Ted Cheeseman when they meet in a 12-round junior middleweight bout on the first “Fight Camp” card Aug. 1 on the grounds of the Matchroom Boxing headquarters outside London.

However, Eggington (28-6, 17 KOs) will be taking nothing for granted. Too much is at stake. He is ranked No. 5 by the IBF and has recorded four consecutive victories since he was stopped in the fifth round by Liam Smith in March of last year.

The native of Birmingham wants to maintain his momentum and position himself for a shot at a world title.

The card will be streamed on DAZN.

“You only have to watch Ted fight to know that he doesn’t give up when it gets hard,” Eggington said. “I have full faith in myself, and if anyone can make him give up, I’ll be that guy. It’ll be a good fight while it lasts. The way we both fight, it’s going to gel for a war, but I genuinely think I’ve got enough to get the win.

“I’m confident with this fight. Eddie gave me a list of names for potential opponents and we picked him out because it’s a good fight and one we can win.”

Eggington believes a victory would bolster his credentials as a contender.

“I’ve never been in a position to have an argument for some sort of [title] eliminator, and I think I am now with the IBF belt. That’s the aim once we get past Ted,” he said.

Cheeseman (15-2-1, 9 KOs) was a fairly hot prospect going into last year, winning his first 15 fights. However, the Londoner is 0-2-1 in his last three fights, with losses against Sergio Garcia and Scott Fitzgerald.

A victory would pump new life into his career. That fact isn’t lost on Eggington.

“It’s all or nothing for the both of us,” he said. “That’s the way I live in general.”

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Video: Callum Smith discusses family business — boxing

We all should feel for boxing mothers, whose sons and daughters risk their well being to follow their dreams. Ask any of the moms: It’s difficult. And we should have an abundance of sympathy for one mother in particular in Liverpool, England: She …

We all should feel for boxing mothers, whose sons and daughters risk their well being to follow their dreams. Ask any of the moms: It’s difficult.

And we should have an abundance of sympathy for one mother in particular in Liverpool, England: She has FOUR … yes, four … sons who box professionally.

Of course, we’re talking about the Smith brothers, Callum, Liam, Stephen and Paul, all of whom have enjoyed success. They have an impressive combined record of 122-13-1.

In this episode of Boxing with Chris Mannix, the DAZN commentator interviews the youngest and best of the lot — Callum Smith — about what it’s like being part of a boxing family and how mom copes.

Here’s what he had to say.

[jwplayer iNq6JxOL]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Video: Sugar Ray Leonard explains what makes Canelo Alvarez great

Hall of Famer Ray Leonard explains what makes Canelo Alvarez great in the DAZN video feature “12 Rounds with Sugar Ray Leonard.”

[jwplayer I6ZmNS9z]

Great fighters know what it takes to reach great heights.

That’s why the streaming service DAZN enlisted legendary Hall of Famer Sugar Ray Leonard to take part in a video feature titled “12 Rounds with Sugar Ray Leonard.”

In each episode, the former four-division champion focuses on a top active fighter and identifies the 12 rounds from a variety of fights that made him what he is today.

The subject today: Canelo Alvarez.

“There is no arguing that Canelo Alvarez is among the best fighters of his generation,” Leonard said in the video. “And I think these 12 rounds define his greatness.”

Enjoy!