Canelo vs Khan result: Canelo defeats Khan by KO

The T-Mobile arena in Las Vegas hosted a big fight for its first boxing card ever, but who won the Canelo vs Khan bout?

Rarely do two boxers who are both accomplished and young meet up, particularly when they have spent most of their careers campaigning in different weight classes. But the Canelo vs Khan fight on Saturday night was the rare exception, with 25-year old Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and 29-year old Amir Khan colliding at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

Canelo entered the fight as the lineal middleweight champion thanks to his November 2015 victory over Miguel Cotto. Khan, a former 147-pound titlist, had won five straight going into Saturday’s bout but was competing above welterweight for the first time at the catchweight of 155 pounds.

And in a battle billed as “Power vs. Speed,” it was power that ended up having the final say. After Khan’s vaunted hand speed stymied him early, Canelo adjusted during Rounds 3 and 4 and smashed home a right hand that dropped Khan during Round 6. Khan was out cold as he fell, suffering the third knockout loss of his career.

Indeed, it was the size difference plus Khan’s prior chin definciencies that made nearly every boxing expert pick Alvarez to win by stoppage. It wasn’t easy early on, though, as Khan managed to flash enough quick, effective combo punches to win the first two rounds on most observers’ personal cards.

Canelo slowly managed to cut off the ring more often, and his body work was a factor in helping to bank a few straight rounds of his own. He also cut Khan in Round 5, but that was simply a small taste of what was to come.

With both men in the center of the ring, Canelo feinted with his left hand and landed a vicious right upstairs that simply starched Khan. The referee waved things off immediately, awarding Alvarez the 33rd KO win out of his 47 professional victories.

Gennady Golovkin was an interested observer sitting near the ring, and Canelo said after the fight that he invited GGG into the ring. It remains to be seen if those two men will do battle, but another scintillating performance for Canelo will only increase the anticipation for that match-up if and when it can be made.

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