I think it’s safe to say there will be a rehydration clause. Canelo is brilliant yet still plays the A card to give him further advantages - really does my head in as he’s that good he doesn’t need to. As for the fight, I think it will be one sided. Canelo is levels ahead of Smith. Tall and upright with basic movement and I think he gets stopped in the mid rounds. Smith can punch though but unsure about this on the world level as he’s not got what you’d call a deep resume. Glad to see Eddie working with Joe G again. Hopefully Callum Johnson gets a fight now.
Does Smith bang hard enough to do what Kovalev was doing - use the jab and thow clusters. If he does he might have some success - Canelo didn't really push the action at any point and was arguably down the cards.. The Ryder fight of course is what people judge Smith on but does Canelo fight on the inside like that? Ryders head movement and footwork at times got him in position in close. Canelo kinda like to stand make you mis then counter he doesn't rush to the inside and that might give Smith a bit more room. Interesting fight although one you would expect Alvarez to come through fairly easily either by stoppage or wide decision.
Disgrace if he does..... calling himself the Light Heavyweight champ and then putting a hydration clause on a Super Middleweight.
Think he’ll approach the Callum fight the same way he approached this one. Different levels between Smith and Fielding but similar style and plenty of torso to aim at.
Yeah i haven't see the full Fielding fight I don't think but it was at the back of my mind they are both tall orthodox fighters and that's probably how Canelo will fight it. If Smith gets the better of him with the jab that could slow Canelo getting inside and make it interesting. Unlike Ryder Canelo isn't going to rush in - the speed of the transition from outside to inside got Ryder his success. Alvarez is a lot more methodical working behind the jab happy to throw long right hands etc and then if his opponents back to the ropes he will open on the inside. He can do it at any range Alvarez hes maybe not as limited as Ryder in terms of options to win the fight.
Although Canelo struggled with Kovalev and as mentioned above, was potentially behind on the cards, Kovalev has a much higher skill set then Callum Smith. Smith will have a punchers chance definitely and if he can keep it long and learn to clinch he could win. I think Alvarez is overated, although still a great fighter. My issue is Smith has lost plenty of rounds against middling competition (Rebrasse level and above), has too much of a basic defence, tends to go back in straight lines and zero head movement. As a brit I should support him but the only real world level SMW he's beat was Groves and probably the only world level NATURAL SMW he's fought. JG would become unbearable if he won.
I like Callum and would love him to win but unfortunately this is how I see this one playing out too.
No shame in that. People forget that Callum isn’t Billy Joe, he doesn’t NEED to fight. Look at his purses for the WBSS and winning it! He could retire now. People have misread his chase for greatness for a chase for a cash out. Callum wants this fight to be great and you can’t knock a man for that.
