May 8, 2016
LAS VEGAS (AP) Canelo Alvarez got on his
knees to check on Amir Khan after knocking him unconscious with a big
right hand in the sixth round of their title fight.
Then he went over to check on some future
business with fellow middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, who was
watching ringside.
''I invited him to come into the ring,'' Alvarez said. ''Right now I will put the gloves on again.''
It's a fight both Golovkin and boxing fans
have been waiting for to happen, though the weight could be an issue.
Alvarez wants the bout to be less than the 160-pound middleweight limit,
while Golovkin, who holds his own piece of the middleweight crown, vows
to fight at his best weight.
''I am old school,'' Golovkin said just before the fight. ''Middleweight is 160. I respect the sport of boxing.''
Against Khan, Alvarez needed only one big
right hand to turn a close fight into a smashing knockout that left the
British challenger out cold on his back in the middle of the ring.
Struggling with Khan's speed, Alvarez
unleashed a long right hand that send Khan backward on the canvas, where
referee Kenny Bayless didn't even bother to count him out at 2:37 of
the sixth round.
Alvarez retained his piece of the
middleweight title, but it was not without some nervous moments for his
fans who packed the new T-Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas Strip. Khan was
more than holding his own in a tactical fight when the right hand
suddenly ended it.
''People have known me only for my power,''
Alvarez said. ''I have many more qualities in the ring and I showed
that. I think people saw more of me.''
Khan, a 6-1 underdog, had vowed to use his
speed to confound Alvarez and his plan seemed to be working. He fought
in spurts, landing combinations and seemingly frustrating Alvarez with
his movement.
But a right hand that came out of nowhere landed flush against Khan's chin, and he was out before he hit the canvas.
''I was getting in the ring with a big guy,'' Khan said. ''Unfortunately, I didn't make it to the end.''
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's head snapped back when he hit
the canvas and he appeared out for several minutes before being revived.
Alvarez was making the first defense of the
WBC title he won from Miguel Cotto in November, though the fight was
fought at a catch weight of 155 pounds. The WBC has said it will take
the title from Alvarez if he does not begin talks for a fight with
Golovkin within 15 days.
''I don't fear anyone,'' Alvarez said. ''We don't come to play in this sport.''
Khan, for one, believes it's a fight that has to happen, and soon.
''I think it's time that Canelo steps in the ring with Triple G,'' Khan said.
A pro-Alvarez crowd of 16,540 filled the new
arena on the Las Vegas Strip for his first fight on the Mexican holiday
weekend that Floyd Mayweather Jr. usually fought on. They came
expecting to see Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 knockouts) put on a show, though he
had trouble with Khan's speed and movement in the early rounds.
Alvarez chased after Khan (31-4) from the
first round on, trying to cut the ring off and corner him on the ropes.
He was largely unsuccessful, and Khan answered with combinations to the
head, though they seemed to have little effect on the red-haired Mexican
champion.
Alvarez was up on two ringside judges'
scorecards when the fight ended, while Khan was leading by one point on
the third. Ringside punch stats showed Khan landing 48 of 166 punches to
64 of 170 for Alvarez.
Khan, who spent years unsuccessfully chasing
bouts with Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, had to put on weight for
Alvarez but was still the smaller fighter.
''I'm a natural 147-pounder and this
challenge came and it was hard to turn down,'' Khan said. ''My natural
weight is 147 and I will probably go back down to that.''
Khan's trainer, Virgil Hunter, joined in the chorus of those who want to see Alvarez and Golovkin fight soon.
''He's got to stop hiding behind the flag and fight the fight that we all want to see,'' Hunter said of Alvarez.
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