Canelo Alvarez (R) stands over Amir Khan after delivering a knockout punch during the sixth round of their WBC middleweight title fight at T-Mobile Arena on May 7, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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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 jumped two weight divisions to challenge Mexican Alvarez and was bidding to become only the third former light-welterweight world champion to win a middleweight world title.
“I’m a natural 147 (pounds) fighter”, Khan told host American broadcasters HBO after he had recovered, having spent a worryingly long time on his back before returning to his feet.
“I’ll fight him right now. I fear no one in this sport”.
After the fight, Alvarez didn’t mince words: He wants to fight Gennady Golovkin, aka Triple G, next.
“I want to thank everyone for coming”, said Khan. “But I will probably go down to 147 now”.
Khan’s trainer Virgil Hunter commended his boxer for taking on the challenge of Alvarez and said: “He took the risk, gave up everything for the challenge and did not hide away from it”.
Amir Khan is knocked out in the sixth round of the fight after dominating the opening exchanges. Amir has set the tone. The WBC has said it will take the tile from Alvarez if he does not begin talks for a fight with Golovkin within 15 days. 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. “But I knew the time would come to my favor and you saw that”. “Like I said in Mexico, “We don’t f– around.’ We don’t come to play in this sport”.
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.
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Khan’s speed and movement had made the early going tough for Alvarez but the outcome was predictable given the disparity in size and punching power.
