Canelo Alvarez

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez has agreed to a super middleweight unification bout with Billy Joe Saunders in May on DAZN, according to Mike Coppinger of The Athletic. 

The deal came together after a May 2020 fight between the two fell apart amid the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. DAZN is set to exclusively show the event on either May 1 or May 8.

Yet before Alvarez looks to solidify himself atop the super middleweight class, he'll have to first defeat Avni Yildirim on February 27. The contract with Saunders raises the stakes for Alvarez over the next few months, as he'll not only have to win against Yildirim but also stay healthy between bouts. 

Alvarez (54-1, 36 KOs) has never faced either of these fighters, which presents a strong challenge for the sport's pound-for-pound best boxer. 

Saunders is a southpaw with a perfect record at 30-0 (14 KOs). This is not a sham title defense, as both fighters stand plenty to lose and a lot to gain.

Saunders claimed the WBO middleweight title from Andy Lee in 2015 and successfully defended the belt on three occasions. He then took the WBO's vacant super middleweight title in May 2019 and has since defended it twice. The winner of the Canelo-Saunders bout would hold three of the four super middleweight belts (including the WBA and WBC titles).

As for Yildirim (21-2, 12 KOs), Alvarez steps in against a 29-year-old from Turkey who needs to prove himself after a technical decision against Anthony Dirrell cost him the vacant super middleweight title in February 2019. Two years later, Yildirim is ready to get back in the ring against the sport's best. 

If nothing else, lining up title defenses only months apart shows Alvarez isn't slowing down. He's raising the stakes for himself and testing how far he can take his stardom. 

Logan Paul accused Canelo Alvarez of holding him to a double standard after Alvarez diminished his attempt at a boxing career.

Through a translator, Alvarez told TMZ Sports that Logan Paul, his brother Jake Paul and athletes from other sports staging major boxing events shows "a lack of respect."

Paul responded by bringing up Canelo's positive test for clenbuterol ahead of a 2018 fight against Gennady Golovkin.

"I think he's the guy that got caught using steroids twice," Paul said during a stream with The Night Shift Gaming (via TMZ Sports). "We want to talk about disrespecting boxing, talk about a guy who didn't play by the rules."

He also posited Alvarez might be envious because "I get a chance to beat [Floyd] Mayweather, and he lost to him."

Paul and Mayweather are slated to fight in an exhibition on Feb. 20.

That gives Paul an opportunity to succeed where Alvarez failed. Canelo lost to Mayweather by majority decision in September 2013.

In the unlikely event that he topples the unbeaten legend, Paul would have bragging rights on Alvarez and a number of other notable boxers. The fact that it will have been an exhibition bout would water down the result somewhat, though.

One could argue Paul's general feeling of disrespect is somewhat justified, though not for the reason he cited.

To some extent, having famous YouTubers and former NBA stars fight on big stages doesn't reflect positively on boxing, but nobody tunes into these shows to watch competition at the highest level.

Be it judging scandals, alleged fight-fixing, unscrupulous promoters or a general inability to schedule the matchups fans want to see the most, boxing does a pretty good job of undercutting itself at times.

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez's goal of taking over the super middleweight division got off to a fine start Saturday night, as the Mexican superstar defeated Callum Smith via unanimous decision at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

The judges scored the fight 119-109, 119-109, 117-13 in favor of Alvarez. He deserved every point in what was one of the strongest performances of his career.

The 30-year-old's full complement of skills was on display against Smith, who suffered the first loss of his career. Alvarez's jab was accurate, he mixed up punches to the head and body well and his defensive work kept him from taking much damage. He dominated the bigger man from start to finish.

ESPN's Max Kellerman reacted to the dominant performance:

Smith fought bravely, but it was a systematic dismantling by Canelo. By the time the match ended, the Englishman's face was swollen, his white trunks were spattered with blood and his WBA world title belonged to Alvarez.

This was Alvarez's first fight since beating Sergey Kovalev at light heavyweight in November 2019. Back down to a more comfortable 168 pounds, Alvarez, who also earned the vacant WBC title with the victory, is looking to take over the division.

"I want all the belts. It doesn't matter who is there," Alvarez said after the bout through an interpreter on the DAZN broadcast.

The height and reach disparity presented a unique challenge for Alvarez, but it didn't take long for him to find a rhythm. Smith did well when using his jab to keep Alvarez at a distance, while the latter looked for opportunities to throw hard shots at Smith's torso.

The third round saw Alvarez start to use his head movement more to get out of the way of Smith's punches and inch his way in closer. He was the more accurate fighter, with his tightly coiled shots finding a landing spot at a decent clip. Whenever Smith got trapped on the ropes, Alvarez used it as an opportunity to hammer away at his body.

The Athletic's Mike Coppinger liked what he saw from Canelo early on:

Smith was letting his hands go more than Alvarez, but the Englishman had trouble landing anything significant. He mixed a few uppercuts into his arsenal starting in the fifth round, but they didn't keep Alvarez from stalking him around the ring for very long.

Boxing writer Patrick Connor felt Smith tactics were fine, he just lacked the power to deter his opponent:

DAZN Boxing showed off some of the great defensive work from Alvarez that mitigated Smith's better combinations:

Smith's length, stamina and work rate kept him from getting pummeled in the first half of the fight, but he started to look more ragged in the seventh round. Alvarez looked as comfortable in the seventh frame as he did in the first, and he found it easier to trap Smith against the ropes where he could then load up on his punches.

A brilliant uppercut in the middle of the eighth rocked Smith, who did a good job of returning fire and getting out of trouble. Every time Smith elevated his game, Alvarez seemed to have an answer, whether it was a slick defensive move, changing levels or simply stepping into his power punches.

The ninth saw Alvarez visibly hurt a bloodied, bruised Smith. Actress Rosie Perez was impressed with Smith's ability to withstand the punishment:

DAZN's Andreas Hale commented on the beating Smith was taking:

DAZN Boxing provided a glimpse of the advanced techniques Alvarez was showing off late in the fight:

Smith survived to the final bell, but he paid an incredible price for it. He's likely going to need some significant time off or a tune-up fight if he wants to work his way back into contention.

The win puts Alvarez in prime position to get back to his typical two-fights-a-year schedule in 2021. There's been chatter surrounding a potential third fight with Gennadiy Golovkin, who dominated Kamil Szeremeta in a middleweight title fight Friday night.

Alvarez could also continue with his stated goal of unifying the 168-pound division, which would mean the likes of Caleb Plant or Billy Joe Saunders would face the daunting task of taking down boxing's biggest star.

Middleweight champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez said the lucrative fights involving famed YouTube personalities Logan Paul and Jake Paul show a "lack of respect" for the sport of boxing.

Alvarez told TMZ Sports in an interview released Saturday the series of bouts, including Jake's victory over former NBA guard Nate Robinson and Logan's upcoming exhibition against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in February, aren't of interest to him and he wouldn't accept an offer to take part.

"No," Alvarez said. "I truly believe that it's a lack of respect. It's all based on money. It's all for money. I'm focused right now on other projects. I have other stuff going on, and I would invite him for a sparring session so that he truly knows what it's all about."

He added: "For true fighters, I do believe it is a lack of respect."

Alvarez explained there's an inherent risk any time somebody steps in the ring, but there's a difference between someone who has trained their entire life and somebody looking to capitalize financially.

"Ya know, it's all about the money," he told TMZ. "I don't think we would agree that people that are basketball players, that are YouTubers get [boxing] licenses. Ya know, I don't criticize [the Paul brothers]. This is a very risky sport, and if you go up there, it's very risky."

The Paul brothers started small with matchups against fellow YouTubers in their pro debuts. Logan lost by split decision to Olajide "KSI" Olatunji in November, while Jake defeated Ali "AnEsonGib" Al-Fakhri by first-round knockout in January.

Jake received a spot on the undercard of the exhibition between former champions Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. last month, and his brutal knockout of Robinson, who was making his debut, went viral.

The brothers are now trying to capitalize by challenging some of the biggest names. While Logan locked in an exhibition bout with Mayweather, one of the greatest boxers in history, Jake is trying to coerce UFC superstar Conor McGregor back into the boxing world.

Jake posted a video earlier this week suggesting his team offered $50 million to McGregor just to sign on the dotted line, per TMZ.

"My team sent you a $50 million offer this morning—$50 million cash, proof of funds, the biggest fight offer you've ever been offered," he said. "But you're scared to fight me, Conor! You're ducking me because you don't wanna lose to a f--king YouTuber. You're 0-1 as a boxer. I'm 2-0 as a boxer."

McGregor lost to Mayweather in August 2017. He's scheduled for a UFC rematch with Dustin Poirier in late January, so any clash with Paul probably wouldn't happen until the spring or summer.

All told, it's not the best sign for the state of boxing when the fighters making the most headlines lately are a pair of former champs over the age of 50—Tyson and Jones—and brothers from YouTube.

There are still plenty of terrific boxers out there, but the sport could use some fresh star power to emerge to replace the likes of Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, who could generate mainstream interest and massive revenue every time they stepped in the ring.

Alvarez is one of the few fighters who still possesses that type of widespread appeal.

Boxing's calendar is overstuffed to end the year, with many great fighters finally getting a chance to get back into the ring after months of pandemic-related delays.

Errol Spence Jr., Terence Crawford, Anthony Joshua and even Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. have all given fans something to celebrate as 2020 comes to a close, but the best bout could be yet to come as Canelo Alvarez returns to action in a super-middleweight title contest against Callum Smith on Saturday.

Contract disputes with Golden Boy Promotions and DAZN have helped keep Alvarez sidelined for nearly all of 2020, but he will be fighting on the streaming service anyway in order to take on Smith.

The Mexican (53-1-2, 36 KOs) has bounced around divisions in recent years, finding success everywhere he goes, and he is looking to buckle down and unify the titles at the super-middleweight ranks.

The undefeated Smith (27-0, 19 KOs) is hoping to make the third defense of his WBA "super" world title, which he earned with a win over George Groves in September 2018. The vacant WBC world title is also up for grabs on Saturday night. 

Alvarez vs. Smith Fight Info

When: Saturday, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. ET (main event at 11 p.m. ET, per SportingNews.com)

Where: Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas

Live stream: DAZN (US and UK, subscription required)

Odds: Alvarez -670, Smith +400 (via Draftkings Sportsbook)

Right off the bat, the obvious difference between these two fighters is size and length. Here's what they looked like standing side-by-side in their first meeting, via Matchroom Boxing:

If numbers are your thing, BoxRec lists Smith at 6'3" with a 78-inch reach, while Alvarez is listed at 5'8" with a 70.5-inch reach.

The British fighter will have a huge advantage if he can establish the jab early on and keep Alvarez fighting at a distance.

TalkSport's Adam Catterall noted it's a significant risk in a title fight but praised Alvarez for not shying away from the challenge:

Smith, who is coming off a decision win over John Ryder last November, has also made it clear that he doesn't think his opponent belongs at 168 pounds, per ESPN.com's Nick Parkinson:

"In my opinion, no, he's not a super middleweight. Yes, he's been there before, fought [Sergey] Kovalev, but if you look at the champions at super middleweight, they are all big lads. There's only so much size your ability can make up for. We saw it with [Vasiliy] Lomachenko [against Teofimo Lopez]. I believe that will be the case for Canelo against me, I will be too big for him. But I'm not just a big lump, I've got skills and ability, too; I've shown I belong at a world level. If I can use the size and ability, I've got the beating of Canelo at 168 pounds."

Doubt Alvarez at your own peril. Smith may be much taller and longer than his opponent, but there are levels in boxing, and few are on the same plane as four-division champion from Guadalajara, Mexico. His all-around game has served him well in big wins over Kovalev, Danny Jacobs and Gennady Golovkin in recent years.

He's proved to be a master at keeping his head moving while remaining coiled up and in position to counter punch. If Smith takes a big swing and whiffs, Alvarez can use his speed and accuracy to go right to the body.

Targeting the midsection worked well for him in his previous fight at super middleweight, a third-round stoppage win over Rocky Fielding, via DAZN Boxing:

Working the body also happened to deliver Alvarez a stoppage win over Smith's older brother, Liam, in 2016.

Smith, who, like Alvarez, is in his prime at 30 years old, will be hoping he can pose a unique challenge to the Mexican superstar. It's going to take a sharp, focused and measured performance, as Alvarez has shown his chin can withstand incredible power going up against the likes of Kovalev and Golovkin.

Smith, who has a solid KO record with 19 stoppages, may find his best path to victory is on the scorecard. The Liverpool, England native can certainly make things awkward for Alvarez with his length and may hold up well in the closer exchanges being the more natural fit at 168 pounds.

The possibility of a big upset is there, but don't count on it. Look for Alvarez to shrug off some potentially troublesome early rounds and break down the champion en route to a late stoppage victory.

Prediction: Alvarez via late-round TKO

Former boxing star and current Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya said Friday that Canelo Alvarez's departure from Golden Boy Promotions was hurtful. 

According to Dan Rafael of BoxingScene.com, De La Hoya said: 

"You never want to part ways this way. It literally hurt my feelings. I remember [Top Rank chairman and De La Hoya's former promoter] Bob Arum once telling me when I was younger, 'Don't ever, ever make it personal with any fighter. Don't ever make it personal.' He obviously knows by experience. So I finally know what he's talking about."

Alvarez and Golden Boy Promotions officially parted ways in November after Alvarez's lawsuit for breach of contract against Golden Boy and streaming service DAZN was settled.

Canelo signed an 11-fight, $365 million deal in 2018 to fight exclusively on DAZN, but he filed the lawsuit after Golden Boy Promotions and DAZN were unable to come to terms on his next opponent or how much he would make for the fight.

As a result, Alvarez's contract with Golden Boy was dissolved, and his deal with DAZN ended after just three fights.

De La Hoya expressed his thoughts on why things between Golden Boy and Canelo went south:

"The big issue and problem for many fighters, and I have some experience, is all the whispers in your ears. Everyone whispering in your ears saying that you deserve more money, the grass is greener on the other side, we can do it better. The bottom line is that everyone who has been with us, every fighter who has been promoted by us, you know, that grass is not greener on the other side. It's proven. And so the biggest problem was and will continue to be the whispers in fighters' ears. ...

"I compare [the situation with Alvarez] to a marriage. Just because you have your rocky moments doesn't mean you're going to get a divorce. You have to work it out. We had a solid relationship and who knows where it went sour. Who knows what people talked in his ear, but the fighter is so gullible and so accessible to anybody that it makes it very difficult to have those long-term relationships with the elite fighters."

Alvarez, who plans to work with different promoters on a fight-by-fight basis, struck a deal with Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn for a fight with undefeated super middleweight world champion Callum Smith on Dec. 19.

That fight will occur on DAZN due to Hearn's deal with the service. De La Hoya questioned the logic behind the move since Alvarez would have made more staying under contract with Golden Boy and DAZN.

The 30-year-old Alvarez is one of the biggest boxing stars in the world thanks to his career record of 53-1-2, but De La Hoya remains optimistic about Golden Boy's future.

De La Hoya pointed to young fighters like Ryan Garcia, Vergil Ortiz, Joseph Diaz Jr. and Jamie Munguia as budding stars who the promotion can build around in the coming years.

Canelo Alvarez's return to the ring is set.

On Tuesday, promoter Eddie Hearn announced Alvarez has agreed to a Dec. 19 bout with Callum Smith, a move that's been expected since Canelo ended his working relationship with Golden Boy Promotions earlier this month.

Alvarez has not fought since November 2019 amid a lawsuit he filed against Golden Boy and DAZN, claiming Oscar De La Hoya's promotional team falsely represented him in negotiations with the streaming service. His suit sought $280 million in damages for breach of contract.

Alvarez was originally slated to fight in May, but that bout was postponed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Alvarez, Golden Boy and DAZN then had a falling out over the fighter's next opponent.

Steve Kim of ESPN reported DAZN had been steadfast in Canelo fighting Gennady Golovkin, who is also signed to a deal with the streaming service, for the third time. However, Alvarez balked at a rematch against GGG. It's believed that De La Hoya pitched the 11-fight, $365 million deal Canelo signed in 2018 partially on the back of a promise that a third fight between the two would happen.

The lawsuit stated:

"After extended discussions between the parties, DAZN offered to pay Alvarez and Golden Boy Promotions a fraction of the contracted $40 million license fee in cash and some DAZN stock in advance of a potential IPO. However, the entire value of the package—for a bout against another World Champion—was substantially less than Alvarez' contractual guarantee.

"Given that DAZN had made it clear that it would not honor its contract, throughout the spring and summer of 2020, Alvarez repeatedly asked Golden Boy Promotions to explore alternative broadcast options for a fall 2020 bout. Although Golden Boy Promotions reported that it was talking to various broadcasters, it failed to put forth a single alternative plan by which it would pay Alvarez the $35 million it had promised him for each of his fights."

While the parties reached a settlement earlier this month, it's unclear what (if any) compensation went Alvarez's way. 

Golden Boy and DAZN continue to have a working relationship.   

Alvarez is 53-1-2 with 36 knockouts in his career. Smith has a 27-0 career record with 19 knockouts. 

Canelo Alvarez reportedly re-filed his lawsuit against DAZN, Golden Boy Promotions and Oscar De La Hoya and is seeking at least $280 million in damages and the ability to break from his contracts.

Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated reported the news, noting the boxer is also looking for a jury trial.

Mannix explained the situation could still be resolved without involving a court seeing as how there are ongoing mediation sessions, but this move means Alvarez still has the lawsuit as an option.

Salvador Rodriguez of ESPN Deportes noted representatives for Alvarez, DAZN and Golden Boy all met Sept. 22 to discuss the situation.

Alvarez signed a five-year, 11-fight, $365 million deal with DAZN in 2018, but the lawsuit he filed in federal court was of the breach-of-contract variety. There has also been disagreement about selecting opponents, although the mediation could address that.

He had until Monday to refile the lawsuit, which was initially dismissed based on a technical error.

According to Rodriguez, DAZN offered him a new deal that could be worth approximately $20 million a fight.

Alvarez has not fought since November when he defeated WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev. Part of the reason for the delay is the COVID-19 pandemic, which paused much of the sports world in the spring and summer.