WATCH: Canelo Alvarez blasts Kirkland out in 3 rounds

MANILA, Philippines – Saul “Canelo” Alvarez strengthened his foothold as one of the young stars to carry boxing after Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao retire, knocking James Kirkland out with a single right hand on Sunday, May 10 Manila time at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Tex.

Alvarez (45-1-1, 32 knockouts) has now won three straight since his majority decision loss to Mayweather in 2013.

“I’m ready for any rival. I don’t run any from anyone,” the 24-year-old Alvarez said afterwards.

The former WBC junior middleweight champion Alvarez was stunned briefly by the heavy-handed Kirkland (32-2, 28 KOs) before dropping Kirkland once in the first round and twice in the third to force the stoppage.

“Last week we witnessed the past and tonight the future,” Alvarez’s promoter Oscar de la Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions said at the post-fight press conference. 

Alvarez had initially expected to face RING magazine middleweight champion Miguel Cotto, but negotiations hit a stall, with Cotto possibly holding out in anticipation of a fight with Mayweather had the Pacquiao talks soured again. 

Cotto (39-4, 32 KOs) will defend his middleweight championship for the first time in a year when he faces Australian Daniel Geale at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. on June 6. De la Hoya says they’ll be watching the fight with eyes to the future.

“We’re obviously going to be watching very closely on June 6 when Cotto fights,” said De la Hoya. – Rappler.com