Junior middleweight titlist Liam Smith will attempt to make the third defense of his title on Saturday when he faces Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 KOs) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
England's Smith (23-0-1, 13 KOs) will be fighting outside of his home country for the first time, which poses an additional challenge in a fight he enters as the underdog despite holding the belt.
If Smith wants to retain his title, he should respect the following keys:
Remain patient (and opportunistic)
Smith is a boxer who fights with controlled aggression. He rarely takes risks by throwing wild combinations and instead fights like a hunter, waiting for the right moment to throw his best shots. He is patient and has developed an efficient style. He shouldn't change this style against Alvarez. It's a style suited to frustrate the Mexican at first, but Smith will need to follow up with timely counterattacks to win the fight.
Rely on your strengths
Smith does not have a varied arsenal. However, he tends to use his artillery wisely. The long right hand from the outside is his primary weapon, along with a short right from close range, and he should focus on both if he wants to hurt Alvarez. Smith has good reach and often uses it to his advantage. If we consider that defense is not Canelo's strong point, the British fighter can make things hard for him if he persists with the right hand.
Capitalize on mistakes
Alvarez will enter the ring determined to take control of the fight and will take risks as he seeks to land his best shots. It's in these moments that the Mexican often makes defensive mistakes. He opens his torso too much to throw hooks from outside or loses his cool when he misses with an overhand. His strong chin has enabled him to survive power punches from smaller opponents. But Smith is bigger, packs a punch and if he takes advantage of those errors to land his power shots, his chances of victory will increase.
Stay focused
Smith will be fighting for the first time outside of England and will be facing an opponent who will likely be backed by more than 50,000 Mexican fans. Nerves and stage fright could be another enemy for Smith to overcome. The British fighter must stay calm and focused at all times to carry out his game plan and be determined when it comes to imposing himself and controlling the pace of the fight. This could prove key in the eyes of the judges if it ends up being a close fight.
Don't forget Plan B!
Defensively, there is no doubt that Smith's absolute priority should be to watch out for Alvarez's power shots. The offensive side, however, will be a battle of strategies. Both fighters may opt to play it safe and take few risks. If the fight becomes a tactical struggle and goes the distance, Alvarez, as the home fighter, is more likely to get the decision. That's why Smith's corner needs to have an additional strategy for their fighter. Plan B could be the key to success.