Smith is indeed a decent fighter, but sadly he can't properly make 168 lb anymore. So …. he will get smashed by Canelo.
You underrate Casemiro really badly, he's 100% a top fighter in the division. I'm guessing you don't really follow the lower weights? As for the others, Lopez is about as good a choice as any available; Kamil Szeremeta is actually no good, but he is the IBF mandatory. I'm not about to bash Canelo vs Smith either. Smith is a decent boxer with a big size advantage, achievement-wise he has a strong claim to #1 at 168 lb (although Ryder did deserve the decision if you ask me). A year ago I would have considered this an A+ fight, now it's still a decent option but I'm not nearly so excited. I (and much of the industry) suspect Smith is cashing out because he can't make 168 lb anymore. Hopefully it was just an off night or under-preparation - certainly he should be fully motivated for Canelo.
I think Canelo stops him around the 8th Had he taken this fight before or right after Danny J I would be more excited. Smith has lost a step and that is exactly what type of opposition they look for when selecting an opponent. Krusher had fallen down a few steps after Ward and they even took on an aging off the prime of his career GGG. Smoke and mirrors but damn they are smart and Canelo will be easily a HOF boxer in the end
Dang....I bet your knees get tired from the stick meat you stay open and down for with ODLH and Big Red
Okay, I see some people spouting some grade A bull**** on this thread. Maybe it's because they've worked themselves into a reactive kneejerk mindset to shitcan and urinate on any and everything Canelo, but Jesus ****ing Christ, get a grip. This is a damn good match and the end result is not a foregone conclusion by any means. Callum Smith is undefeated (technically) is a bonafide Super Middleweight if there ever was one, arguably a weight bully, is heavy handed, has a solid jab, a great chin, is massive, with a far longer reach. While Canelo should rightfully be considered the favorite, this isn't some case of fighting a Jose Benavidez, Amir Khan or Egidijus Kavaliauskas type opponent. Sooner or later Canelo punching way above his weight class is going to catch up with him. Yes, Kovalev was shot to **** and in retrospect was clearly in no way shape or form ready to leap back in the ring that soon, but even Kovalev past it and as chinny as he is, was still able to outbox Canelo for the vast majority of the rounds. Callum Smith is capable of a Kovalev-esque performance if he goes all out as well. And what if he doesn't pull his punches in order to not gas out hoping to get some sympathetic scorecards? Kovalev badly stunned Canelo the once time he set down on a shot, but he didn't follow up, Callum won't make that mistake. Now, while many of you will say, but, but, but.... John Ryder. Yeah and? I picked John Ryder to beat Callum Smith, because of that brutally overused oft repeated idiom, "styles make fights." Anyone with a hint of a Boxing brain could have seen that a mile away, Ryder since tightening up his defense and actually attempting to accentuate the inherent advantages one has when fighting as a southpaw, is a vastly improved fighter since his days at MW, then when you take into consideration he only has one non-debatable loss on his record against Blackwell. He easily beat Arnfield and Fielding and came the closest of anyone to actually drawing with Saunders and managed to hurt Saunders in the process. His right hook is punishing and as of late a damn near lethal KO punch. Ryder was the worst possible opponent style wise for Mundo.... compact, defensively sound southpaw, who is an EXCELLENT inside fighter and a lanky, skinny, rangy fighter with zero inside game don't mix well at all. I'm not sure Ryder doesn't run Canelo close if not do enough to beat him as well. So no big deal. This is a good fight, and anyone who disagrees. Chill the **** out, take a deep breath, calm the **** down, think for one ****ing second and process it a little before flipping out.
