Photo by David Becker/Getty Images
On Saturday, May 7, 2016, WBC, RING and Lineal Middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 KOs) scored a brutal one-punch knockout victory against former Super Lightweight world titlist Amir Khan (31-4, 19 KOs) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The scheduled 12-rounder headlined a night of boxing that was televised via HBO PPV.
Alvarez, 25, had a tough start as Khan unleashed quick one-two combinations in the opening round. The speed seemed to bother the Mexico native at first.
Khan, 29, used a quick jab and a lot of lateral movement to set up his quick combinations. The native of the UK demonstrated his speed and skill in the way he was able to consistently outland Alvarez in the first two rounds.
Beginning in Round 3, however, Alvarez slowly began finding his offense, working from shots to the body and landing hooks and right hands to the top. As the rounds progressed, so did Khan’s fatigue.
“He is a fast fighter, and I knew things would be complicated in beginning, but I knew they would come to my favor as the fight went on,” said Alvarez.
However, it was not only his size advantage that helped Canelo in Rounds 3 and 4; it was also his boxing skill. Alvarez would then begin to defend right hands with either a slip or a roll of his chin before coming back to the body with shots that seem to hurt Khan.
“People have known me only for my power. I have many more qualities in the ring and I showed that. I think people saw more of me tonight. Someone that comes in to box gives you more trouble and someone that comes right in is a little easier to fight,” said Alvarez.
Indeed, in Round 6, Alvarez feinted Khan with a jab to the body before unleashing a thunderous right hand that immediately knocked Khan out.
Khan fell flat on the ground and even bounced his head on the floor. A concerned Alvarez quickly went to his side on his knees, but Khan was okay within moments.
“Although I feel strong at this weight, I am naturally a lighter fighter and plan to go back down to welterweight. But, I like to challenge myself and that is why I took this fight,” said Khan, who spent the rest of his post-fight interview marketing a fight between Gennady Golovkin and Alvarez.
“I think it’s time for Canelo to step up to GGG, just like I stepped up to fight him,” said Khan.
Indeed, all eyes are now on Alvarez, who must face his WBC mandatory challenger in Golovkin. If he chooses not to, he will be stripped of his WBC title.
In his post-fight interview with HBO’s Max Kellerman, Alvarez said he does not fear anyone and that he was willing to fight Golovkin.
“Like we say in Mexico ‘we don’t fuck around.’ I don’t fear anyone; we don’t come to play in this sport. I fear no one in this sport. Right now I would put on the gloves again and fight him,” said Alvarez.
Whether or not the fight will actually happen this year remains to be seen, but it’s the biggest fight that can be made in boxing.
If made, who do you think wins?
Check out Alvarez’s post-fight interview below:
