…In the second round, Khan pinged four quick jabs at Alvarez. As the favourite attempted to pin down his pesky rival, he was swatted upstairs and down, and his head was rocked back by a jab in the third. After three, Khan was doing exactly what was required. Nine minutes down, 27 to go, and Alvarez was being outboxed.
“I was worried [that Khan was winning],” De La Hoya admitted. “He didn’t lose nothing tonight. That’s exactly why we chose him for this fight, why we love watching Khan in fights because he’s so exciting. I have always said he’s too brave for his own good.”
Perhaps. But fourth was more of the same before Canelo closed the gap in the fifth. While unable to slow Khan, he appeared to be closing the gap, his own movement ushering his rival into corners and to the ropes. A left hook landed. Khan looked briefly buzzed but his legs – that have been known to dance drunkenly in the past – remained in time. The underdog took another shot in the sixth but was fighting well when the finisher came. Khan attempted a jab, seemed to sense he was too close, and susceptible to the counter from Alvarez. He didn’t extend his arm fully, edged back, and was wide open for the missile heading his way. His back hit the floor. Kenny Bayless didn’t bother to count. The fight was over…
FOR THE FULL FIGHT REPORT, STUNNING PHOTOGRAPHY, INTERVIEWS, AND DETAILS OF WHAT HAPPENED IN KHAN’S HOTEL ROOM, GET THIS WEEK’S BOXING NEWS – AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD NOW, OR SHOPS FROM THURSDAY.
