Amir Khan insisted he had no regrets after his ambitious challenge for the WBC middleweight title ended in a sixth round knockout defeat to Saul Alvarez. The Mexican, like fighters before him, was often dazzled by Khan’s hand speed, although the Briton was unable to match the power-punching of Alvarez.
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Khan was taken to the hospital after the fight, but promoter Oscar De La Hoya said he appeared to be fine and that the move was precautionary.
Khan said he’ll return to 147 pounds and fight in the welterweight division for his next bout.
With an ice pack on his neck and his team trying to keep him upright, Khan said he thought it was time for Gennady Golovkin to take his turn against Alvarez.
He said: “I always said he is one of the bravest fighters on the planet today”.
“When a guy’s a lot bigger and a lot stronger, that’s what’s going to happen – but I’ve still got a lot left in me”.
“I wanted to go out there as a champion”.
“I want to be best and fight the best”.
“I will probably go down to 147 now”.
Fans will walk away from Canelo Alvarez-Amir Khan mostly satisfied. At the same time, Canelo showed his often overlooked defense, as he found Khan’s timing and was able to avoid the fast hands that caught him early. Now, if Canelo doesn’t take the fall fight, he would be stripped of his belt and Golovkin would get it with his interim tag being dropped. I fear no one in this sport.
On sheer timing and unprecedented punching power, Alvarez knocked Khan out cold in the sixth round with a devastating right cross. “You want to win by knockout, but you don’t want to hurt anybody”. Many Mexicans were in Las Vegas to celebrate the Cinco de Mayo festival weekend, meaning the majority of the crowd was on Alvarez’s side.
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But the only shock of the night would be to Khan’s chin when Canelo’s fist landed on it and the back of his head when it hit the canvas…. “Unfortunately I didn’t make it to the end”. Props to Khan for taking the risk of moving up from where he’s most comfortable, but being in a mismatch isn’t an excuse to losing, and once again getting knocked out.
