Alvarez knocks out Khan, retains title

Los Angeles, May 8

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Canelo Alvarez defended his World Boxing Council middleweight belt by knocking out Amir Khan with a vicious right hand late in the sixth round of their Las Vegas title fight.

The 25-year-old hard-hitting Mexican dropped Khan with a straight right over a passive left jab that sent the Briton crumpling to the canvas with just 23 seconds left in the round on Saturday.

The back of Khan’s head bounced off the deck, prompting his corner to rush to his aid as he lay motionless for a couple of minutes. Khan eventually got up and went to his corner.

“Many people talk about my power but I have many more qualities in the ring and people saw that,” Alvarez said. “I like to surprise everyone.”

The savage end to what was supposed to be the biggest fight of Khan’s career will undoubtedly strengthen the notion that he has a soft chin.

It was a shocking end to what had been a close fight up to that point. The 29-year-old Khan, who moved up two weight classes to face the bigger champ, started strong and even won the first couple of rounds before Alvarez worked his way into the fight at the brand new T-Mobile Arena.

“He’s very fast. So I knew it would be complicated at the beginning,” Alvarez said. “But I knew the time would come to my favor and you saw that.”

Alvarez is now mandated by the WBC to fight unbeaten two-belt champ Gennady Golovkin, who was at the ringside yesterday.

After the fight Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 KOs) stood in the center of the ring and called out Golovkin during the post-match interview.

“I invited him to the ring,” Alvarez said. “Like we say in Mexico .... We don’t fight for rings and stuff. We don’t come to play. I fear no one in this sport.”

The challenge for former junior welterweight champion Khan is to overcome another crushing knockout as his record dropped to 31-4 with 19 knockouts.

“I showed my balls by getting into the ring with a big guy. I am one of those fighters who will step in the ring with whoever,” said Khan, who was knocked out for the third time in his career. — AFP