Saturday, September 17, 2016, live on HBO Pay-Per-View, Canelo Alvarez takes on Liam Smith in a 12-round fight for Smith’s WBO Junior Middleweight world championship title.
The bout is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Frank Warren and Canelo Promotions and includes a good co-featured bout between Gabriel Rosado and Willie Monroe, Jr.
Read on for Round By Round Boxing’s staff predictions and let us know who you think will win each bout.
[table id=1 /]
Gabriel Rosado
vs.
Willie Monroe
Liam Brady, Graphic Designer/Staff Writer
I am going for Willie Monroe via decision. His ability to box on the back foot, his fluidity when moving, as well as his speed will make it a hard night’s work for Gabriel Rosado. I see this fight being frustrating for the fans who like action, but his style will be able to nullify the aggression of his opponent and seal the win.
Rosado can box, but that would be a mistake against someone more refined, and as slick, as Monroe. This makes his best chances on the inside where he can be rough and land punches up close. However, this may not be possible if Monroe can tie him up on the inside, leading to the referee breaking the fighters apart.
As a consequence, I foresee the fight playing out in a way where Monroe lands his best shots on the outside, and then attempts to smother Rosado’s work when he tries to respond.
Though, I can see this being a close decision win for Monroe, due to the potential of Rosado’s aggression winning some rounds.
I do not think Monroe will be able to permanently keep his opponent at bay, thus leading to Rosado having momentary success and catching the attention of the judges ringside.
Prediction: Monroe
Amber Williams
Prediction: Monroe
Ismael Gallardo, Photographer
Prediction: Rosado
Milo Taibi, Staff Writer
On a pay-per-view card rife with mismatches (Canelo Alvarez, Diego De La Hoya, and Joseph Diaz are all at least 10-to-1 favorites on 5Dimes), Gabe Rosado and Willie Monroe’s bout will be a breath of fresh air.
Each fighter has been finished by Gennady Golovkin (no shame in that!), but Monroe should enter as the fresher fighter.
Now 30 years old, Rosado has been defeated four times (not including a NC with J’Leon Love) in his last seven fights.
“El Mongoose” should be provided with a tough test en route to higher profile bouts in the middleweight division.
Prediction: Monroe
CJ Halloran, Staff Writer
I have always been a fan of Gabe Rosado, but I have to admit in the phone meeting between the two fighters leading up to this fight, Rosado sounded not only classless, but kind of scared.
He kept taking verbal jabs at Willie Monroe and trying to get in his head, but to no avail. Monroe stayed calm and collected and said nothing but what needed to be said.
By not succumbing to Rosado’s mind game, I feel Monroe already has a bit of an advantage over Rosado. He successfully frustrated Rosado and may have even intimidated him.
In terms of skill and style in the ring however, Rosado has a far better resume. Not only that, Gabe Rosado has a very Rocky-esque fighting style, which the fans love.
In order for Monroe to win this fight, he will have to stay on his feet and frustrate Rosado with counters and quick flurries instead of sitting and brawling. To predict however, this is a toss up fight. I give it to Willie Monroe Jr. by decision.
Prediction: Monroe
Jack O’Connell, Staff Writer
Truly, the only fight I really care about on this entire card is this one. Two evenly matched fighters looking to impress.
You gotta love Gabriel Rosado. I don’t think there has ever been a fight he has turned down. He took the hard route to get here, earning his licks and taking some beatings. But what hGe’s been able to accomplish is impressive to say the least.
Willie Monroe Jr. is probably a lot more skilled than we think, we just haven’t seen the best of him come out. Winning Boxcino and dominating Brian Vera showed his potential. Then Gennady Golovkin pulverized him. He came back to outbox John Thompson, but he did it with no style.
Monroe should look to impress against Rosado, outboxing the brave Philadelphia fighter, while busting him up in the process too. Gabe will pressure and steal some rounds, but it’s going to be Monroe’a night.
Prediction: Monroe
Brandon Glass, Staff Writer
Not the most attractive fight, but when the division is being dominated by a guy who beat them both, they might as well fight each other. Right?
Gabe Rosado’s a big time journeyman at this point in his career. His resume is built mostly on the “named” fighters he lost to.
Willie Monroe is still a promising prospect, as the most recent loss on his record comes from the king of the division, Gennady Golovkin. No shame in that.
Long story short: while Rosado is tough as nails and has decent skills and a solid punch, Monroe’s skill sets are the type to frustrate an aggressive fighter like Rosado.
Monroe is the more tactical and faster fighter, which leads me to believe that unless Rosado can land something meaningful, he’s going to be thoroughly out boxed to a unanimous decision.
Prediction: Monroe
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Gabriel Rosado has been doing his best “Ferocious” Fernando Vargas impression in the build up to this fight, which is something I don’t mind. Hype is a necessary element in boxing, and a prime Vargas was excellent at keeping people intrigued.
Vargas is now working Rosado’s corner, and no knock against Vargas (he was my favorite fighter back when he laced them up), but the last thing Rosado needs is a “warrior’s mentality” type guy in his corner.
Rosado has boxing skills, but he has showed too many times that he is willing to dumb it down in the ring and show off his heart–something fans love him for, but is not good for his longevity as a boxer.
Willie Monroe is also a tough guy, but he knows what his strengths are. He’s got the balls to stand in the pocket, but his strength is slick boxing. I expect Monroe to pick Rosado apart, winning a one-sided decision.
Prediction: Monroe
[playbuzz-item url=”//www.playbuzz.com/rbrboxing10/gabriel-rosado-vs-willie-monroe-jr”]
Canelo Alvarez
vs.
Liam Smith
Liam Brady, Graphic Designer/Staff Writer
I see Canelo Alvarez winning this by decision. Canelo’s ability to box, as well as fight, makes him highly versatile. He possesses great counterpunching skills, speed, and punch variety. As a consequence, he is far more refined as a fighter than Liam Smith, who is a tough pressure fighter with great body punches, but is arguably limited and cannot adapt.
I believe Smith’s high guard and lack of defensive ability will be exploited by Canelo, in the form of uppercuts breaching underneath the guard of Smith (think Alfredo Angulo), and body shots being thrown when openings are visible from the arms being raised.
I feel, as we have seen before, Canelo will counterpunch, and then pull back to evade his opponent’s retaliation punches. Though, to appease the fans in Dallas, Canelo may conform to Smith’s pressuring style by welcoming shots and trading, in some parts of the fight.
All of this will culminate into a comprehensive, decision victory over Smith. I see Canelo really outclassing his foe, though where fighters have not seen the 12th round, I see Smith’s toughness and resilience carrying him through to the final bell.
Prediction: Canelo
Amber Williams, Photographer
Prediction: Canelo
Ismael Gallardo, Photographer
Prediction: Canelo
Milo Taibi, Staff Writer
Canelo Alvarez should have little problem claiming Liam Smith’s WBO Light Middleweight title.
“Beefy” hasn’t faced nearly the quality of opposition as Alvarez. As has been the case for more than a year, the questions surrounding Canelo and Golden Boy Promotions revolve around a potential matchup with Gennady Golovkin.
Despite brash claims to the contrary, Canelo’s team has opted for overmatched competition in each of his last two bouts. What’s more, Alvarez is in discussions to compete again in December.
If this fight materializes, the quick turnaround will likely ensure another outmatched opponent. If and when Alvarez finishes Liam Smith, the onus will be on Canelo’s brain-trust to book a more competitive fight.
Prediction: Canelo
CJ Halloran, Staff Writer
Here it is. The fight we’ve all been waiting for. The hardest cherry pick by Canelo Alvarez yet. Liam Smith is the definition of a British boxer from what I’ve seen of him. Hands up, head straight, and keeping it all inside on his opponents as he fires off hard shots to both the body and the head.
I don’t see Smith following quite the same strategy as usual however, I see him looking to exploit Canelo’s weaknesses and outlast him as the fight wears on. If this strategy works, I believe Smith has the fight in his grasp.
The only issue is that Canelo has faced fighters like him before and come out on top, and I can’t see much changing for this fight. Not to mention Canelo is the naturally larger fighter.
So I’ll have to give this fight to Canelo by late stoppage.
Prediction: Canelo
Jack O’Connell, Staff Writer
Do I really have to explain why Canelo Alvarez is going to win?
Canelo Smith brings nothing to this fight besides a belt. There’s not even a X-factor that makes this fight slightly interesting. James Kirkland was a beast and Amir Khan was blazingly fast.
Smith is vanilla. He’s a solid boxer puncher, but just solid.
I give it until the eighth. I just want this whole mess to be over with so we can move onto (hopefully) bigger things. Canelo by TKO.
Prediction: Canelo
Brandon Glass, Staff Writer
Meh… so this is what Oscar De La Hoya meant in that letter to Floyd Mayweather Jr. about making way for “the brave, the boxers who want nothing more than to face the best and therefore be the best”?
Okay…
I don’t mean to slight Liam Smith. (Also, there’s no way as a grown man, I can call another grown man “Beefy”).
He’s an undefeated world titlist, but considering he’s never fought outside the UK and he lacks notable opponents on his resume, that means there’s a steep learning curve for him in terms of “world” experience.
But, apparently we’re idiots to GBP, because on paper the matchup is defensible… I guess.
Smith has been on a eight fight KO streak coming in and as previously stated; Smith is undefeated with a legit world title.
That’s a decent tune-up fight if Canelo really plans on fighting GGG in his next outing.
Honestly, I believe most people are likely looking past this fight. It’s nothing more than a large scale showcase fight, in which Canelo should win, most likely by KO.
But at least he’s taking Mexican independence day back. Right?
Prediction: Canelo
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
We’ve gotten Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez in back-to-back weeks. Now if we can only get them in the ring on the same night.
I don’t understand this move for Canelo Alvarez. If you’re going to actually fight a Middleweight juggernaut like Golovkin in 2017, you better get your ass in the ring with some bigger boys.
Amir Khan and Liam Smith don’t cut it. This is another showcase for Canelo as he’ll stop the underwhelming champion in the mid-to-late rounds.
Wake me up when the “best vs. best” fad comes back.
Prediction: Canelo
[playbuzz-item url=”//www.playbuzz.com/rbrboxing10/canelo-alvarez-vs-liam-smith”]
