(Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing UK)

Is A Callum Smith-Canelo Alvarez Fight A Possibility?

By FIGHTSPORTS Jul 2, 2020

Due to recent events, the saying “when one door closes, another opens” will look to be taken advantage of when it comes to Canelo Alvarez’s next opponent.

Recently, WBO Super-Middleweight Champion Billy Joe Saunders backed out of a potential clash with Canelo. Due to COVID-19 concerns and an issue with the purse, Saunders will be moving on to face other champions within the division. As a result, the floodgates have been opened. Callum Smith’s team is looking to ramp up discussions with the middleweight king.

“It’s supposed to have been a two-horse race wasn’t it,” trainer Joe Gallagher stated to Sky Sports. “Now he’s pulling himself out of it, Canelo has got no excuse now, but to fight Callum Smith.

“Callum is in the gym, he is training, he’s been back a couple of weeks now, and if that date and opportunity is put to Callum Smith, he’s ready to go. He’ll take that and I can’t see no reason why Canelo – when they said all along it was between the two of them – Billy Joe Saunders is out, let’s do Callum. Callum is the No 1 at 168. He’s the Ring [magazine] champ, Canelo is the superstar. Let’s just go ahead and do it.”

Smith (27-0), the WBA and The Ring Super-Middleweight Champion, made his professional debut in 2012. A British Super-Middleweight Champion, “Mundo” won the WBA and The Ring Super-Middleweight Titles in the World Boxing Super Series middleweight finals. His last bout was a unanimous decision win over John Ryder in November.

The 30-year-old Smith has called out Canelo before, stating he would tower over him. Gallagher has been trying to push a fight between the two for the longest time. The hope both of them have is if a serious offer is made. Canelo is hoping to fight in September, with opponents like Sergiy Derevyanchenko or Anthony Dirrell in mind.

According to Gallagher, the timing could not be more perfect.

“Callum was looking at fighting September sometime anyway. He was looking at the back end of September, so if it’s Canelo it would be brilliant,” Gallagher stated.