With fellow middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin sitting ringside among the announced crowd of 16,540, Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 knockouts) retained his World Boxing Council middleweight title by dropping Khan at 2:37 of the sixth.
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“He’s a fast fighter but I knew time would come to my favor and you saw that”, Alvarez said after beating Khan.
Khan said afterwards he expects to return to 147lbs, where he is undefeated and where his domestic rival Brook is the IBF champion, and added on Twitter on his way to hospital: “Im okay everyone. thats boxing for you, congrats to @Canelo monster punch, much love to all the fans!”
Alvarez’s punching power was on show with the decisive strike that ended the fight, with Khan looking to throw a left hook but leaving himself exposed – with the champion punishing him without mercy.
Canelo had problems landing anything in the fight.
“I’ve tasted defeat and I’ve won some fights, but I know now what mistakes I made. I fear no one in this sport”, Canelo said.
‘I’m one of those fighters that will step in the ring with whoever. “Like I said in Mexico, “We don’t f– around.’ We don’t come to play in this sport”.
Golovkin (35-0, 32 KOs) has a WBC mandate in place as the mandatory challenger for Alvarez to negotiate for a fight this month or have his belt stripped and given to Golovkin, who already holds the division’s World Boxing Assn. and International Boxing Federation belts.
Canelo slowly managed to cut off the ring more often, and his body work was a factor in helping to bank a few straight rounds of his own.
Khan looked seriously hurt at first as he lie flat on the canvas, but he recovered in time to credit his conqueror in the post-fight interview.
But Canelo caught up with him in the sixth and connected with a couple of shots before delivering his devastating one-punch KO.
Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya is aware that Canelo Alvarez is a heavy favorite in the eyes of everyone, but the former boxer warns the Mexican brawler not to get overconfident. I was unfortunate that I didn’t make it to the end, but I tried my best and I want to say thank you for the support’.
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Amir Khan also tweeted to congratulate the victor, while he also said thanks to his fans around the world. Canelo called out Triple G after his win on Saturday night, and we’ll see if that comes to fruition.
