Boxing: ‘Canelo’ Knocks Out Smith in 9, Calls out ‘GGG’

There’s no disputing that Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is the current champion in boxing in terms of star power and drawing fans to his fight. The Mexican superstar electrified a reported 51,240 fans inside AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas by scoring a highlight reel knockout of Liam Smith in the main event on HBO Pay-Per-View, setting up a potential mega fight next year. Alvarez (48-1-1, 34 KOs) systematically broke Smith down round after round and though “Beefy” had some great success in the fifth and sixth rounds, “Canelo” remained patient until his power came through. When Smith backed Alvarez into the ropes in the seventh, the Guadalajara native uncorked a vicious left hook to the body, followed by an overhand right to the head. The combo dropped Smith, which was for the first time in his professional career, and from there, the end was near.The previously-unbeaten Smith (23-1-1, 13 KOs) was knocked off his feet again in the eighth from a left hook to the liver, but “Canelo” closed the battle out in the ninth with an even better left hook – a Mexican staple – to the body. The punch folded the Liverpool native in half and when he flopped onto his back, writhing in pain, veteran referee Luis Pabon waived it off, officially ending the fight at 2:28 of the frame. The win awarded Alvarez the Brit’s WBO junior middleweight title and in the ensuing post-fight interview, Alvarez called out rival Gennady “GGG” …

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