Canelo Alvarez scores frightening KO of Amir Khan in 6 rounds

MANILA, Philippines – Saul “Canelo” Alvarez proved that size still matters. 

Alvarez retained his WBC middleweight championship with a frightening sixth round knockout of Amir Khan on Saturday, May 7 (Sunday Manila time) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The time of stoppage was 2:37.

Canelo Alvarez knocks out Amir Khan and then he goes back to check up on him.#CaneloKhan
(h/t @ZProphet_MMA)pic.twitter.com/ZS7WCN6Noz

— Def Pen Sports (@DefPenSports) May 8, 2016

Alvarez (47-1-1, 34 knockouts) overcame a slow start to land a perfect right cross through the wide guard of the Englishman Khan (31-4, 19 KOs). Khan, 29, remained on the canvas for several minutes following his third career loss by knockout but assuaged concerns about his well-being with a tweet as he left the arena for a precautionary check-up at a local hospital.

Despite starting slow, Alvarez, 25, was never outlanded in any round, landing 64 of 170 for a 37.6% connect percentage according to Compubox, including 42 of 83 power shots (50.6%), while Khan landed 48 of 166 (28.9%) total punches and 28 of 78 (35.9%) power shots.

Im okay everyone  thats boxing for you, congrats to @Canelo monster punch, much love to all the fans! #CaneloKhan pic.twitter.com/oQcqZQrsLl

— Amir Khan (@amirkingkhan) May 8, 2016

Alvarez, 25, of Guadalajara, Mexico made the first defense of the title he won in November with a decision victory over Miguel Cotto. The fight was fought at a catchweight of 155 pounds, 5 pounds below the middleweight limit but 8 pounds above the welterweight division where Khan had fought much of his career.

The mandatory challenger for Alvarez’s title remains Gennady Golovkin, the undefeated knockout artist who was at ringside for the fight.

The fight was broadcast in the United States by HBO pay-per-view. – Rappler.com