Moments ago at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez captured the WBO jr. middleweight title with a dominant victory over former champion Liam Smith, stopping him in the 9th round. Canelo wasted no time in asserting his bigger size as he immediately took the fight to Smith from the opening bell. Although Smith was game, he simply didn't have enough on his punches to get the respect of Canelo, who simply walked through his punches, dropping him two times before ultimately putting him down for the count with a devastating body shot in the 9th. Relive all the action in FightHype's round-by-round results!
ROUND 1
Smith fires to the body. Canelo lands a jab. Hard right to the body lands for Canelo. Smith lands a jab. Jab and a right lands for Canelo. Another right to the body lands for Canelo. Smith gets in a left. Canelo returns the favor. Good uppercut lands for Canelo. Smith fires to the body. Canelo landing some thudding shots. Stiff jab lands for Canelo. Canelo triples up with his jab; upstairs and downstairs. Right from Canelo is blocked, but still powerful enough to push Smith back. Good right to the body lands for Canelo. Nice left hook lands for Canelo. Another right to the body lands for Canelo. Smith just covering up. Jab lands for Canelo. Good round for Canelo.
Canelo 10 Smith 9
ROUND 2
Canelo starts off firing his jab. Smith grazes him with a left hook. Canelo fires a nice combination. Right lands for Canelo, who is really letting his hands go. Smith works the body, but not much on those punches. Jab lands for Smith. Canelo jabs to the body. Right lands for Smith. Canelo circles. They trade jabs. Good left hook upstairs lands for Canelo. Another left lands for Canelo. Right to the body lands for Canelo. Smith tries to work the body. They trade against the ropes. Canelo has a cut near his left eye. Good right lands for Smith right on that cut. Smith lands a few jabs. Canelo retreats. Better round for Smith. Still give it to Canelo, but Smith might have stole it at the end on some scorecards.
Canelo 20 Smith 18
ROUND 3
Smith jabs. Canelo fires his uppercut. They trade some good shots on the inside. Canelo lands a combo against the ropes. Jab lands for Canelo. Smith backs up. Jab lands for Smith. Uppercut lands for Canelo. They trade jabs. Looping right lands for Canelo. Nice body shot lands for Canelo. Another left lands for Canelo. Smith smiles. Left hook lands for Smith. Another. Right lands for Smith. Canelo lands an uppercut in return. Uppercut lands for Canelo. Looping right lands for Smith. Nice uppercut lands for Smith followed by a left hook. Round to Canelo, but Smith is game.
Canelo 30 Smith 27
ROUND 4
Smith lands a few jabs. Canelo digs a left to the body. Hard right to the body lands for Canelo. Stiff jab ladns for Canelo. Smith fires to the body. CAnelo counters. Smith works the body again and lands a good right upstairs. Left hook upstairs lands for Smith. Canelo lands a hook south of the border. Clubbing right lands for Canelo. Hard left and a right to the body lands for Canelo. Smith lands a looping right. Canelo works the body. Straight right lands for Smith. Smith backs up Canelo to the ropes. They trade some good shots. Canelo lands a double hook. Left and a right lands for Smith. Round to Canelo.
Canelo 40 Smith 36
ROUND 5
Canelo circles the ring. They both fire some jabs. Smith lands some good jabs. Canelo lands an uppercut and a right hook. Another uppercut from Canelo lifts Smith off his feet. Smith fires back. CAnelo backs up to the ropes. Smith lands a right. Canelo digs to the body. Left to the body and a right lands for Smith. Canelo lands an uppercut. Smith lands a nice combination. They trade jabs. Canelo fires to the body. Smith lands a combianation against the ropes. Canelo fires back. Good right lands for Smith and a left hook to end the round. Good, close round. I give it to Canelo for landing the bigger shots.
Canelo 50 Smith 45
ROUND 6
Right and a left from Canelo, but it's blocked. Uppercut lands for Smith. Hook to the body and upstairs lands for Smith. Canelo returns with a nice right. Smith is really game though. Nice jab lands for Smith. 1-2 from Smith. Hard uppercut lands for Canelo. Another. Canelo covers up looking to counter. Smith works the body. Canelo fires to the body. A break in the action as both fighters are warned for roughhousing. Canelo lands a nice right to the body. Smith lands a jab to end the round. Round to Canelo.
Canelo 60 Smith 54
ROUND 7
Hard right lands for Canelo. Smith gets in an uppercut. Looping right lands for Smith. Two uppercuts land for Canelo. BIG right hand lands for Canelo and Smith is down. He's up at 6 and takes the count. Canelo jumps on hiim. Lefth ook lands for Canelo. Smith fires back. Canelo walks him down. Smith holds on. Smith's right eye gushing with blood. Canelo misses with a big right. Left hook lands for CAnelo. Smith retreats. Smith lands a right. Clubbing rights land for Canelo. They trade against the ropes. Smith lands a left that backs Canelo up. Round to Canelo.
Canelo 70 Smith 62
ROUND 8
Canelo fires his jab. Canelo lands a counter right. Left hook followed by a right lands for Canelo. Smith just covering up. Jab to the body followed by an uppercut lands for Canelo. Smith tries to work against the ropes, but not much on those punches. Canelo just eats them and returns heavier fires. Canelo jabs to the stomach. Smith lands a right. Canelo lands a jab. HARD left to the body lands for Canelo and Smith is down again. He takes the count and is up at 8. They trade jabs. Canelo walks him down. Right lands for Canelo. Round to Canelo.
Canelo 80 Smith 70
ROUND 9
Canelo looks like he senses the end is near. HARD left to the body lands for Canelo. Another right to the body lands for Canelo and Smith grimaces. They trade body shots. Smith lands a 1-2. Thudding right to the body lands for Canelo. Left hook lands for Canelo. HARD body shot lands for Canelo again. Smith lands a looping right. Canelo takes a break on the ropes. Two uppercuts land for Canelo. HUGE left hook lands for Canelo and Smith is down and out for the count. That's it. The referee immediately waves it off.
THE WINNER BY WAY OF KNOCKOUT IN THE 9TH ROUND...CANELO ALVAREZ
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