Mayweather vs. Canelo Results: Money Cements Elite Legacy with Dominant Win

Entering Saturday's fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas against Saul "Canelo" Alvarez with a 44-0 record, Floyd Mayweather Jr. was assured a spot in the boxing lexicon. 

Now that he has emerged with a dominant majority decision victory, he has eroded the stockpile of ammunition his critics have been firing at him. 

Make no mistake about it, this is important to Mayweather.

Money doesn't want to be mentioned with others, he wants to be in a class by himself. To secure his place among the likes of ultimate elite fighters like Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali, Mayweather needed a win over another formidable opponent. 

Money has long been criticized for fighting lesser opponents too often. With wins over fighters like Victoriano Sosa and Carlos Baldomir, critics have had plenty of ammunition. 

That is not to suggest that this is a one-sided argument. Proponents of Money's greatness will maintain that there hasn't been a lot for Mayweather to choose from when it comes to mega bouts.

It's not like his resume is barren of elite fighters. Among others, he can boast of beating Oscar De La Hoya and Diego Corrales. 

Of course, there is also the whole debate about whether or not Money has been ducking Manny Pacquiao. 

Critics will say that Mayweather hasn't wanted to risk a loss by stepping into the ring against Pacquiao's power. Meanwhile, Money has a laundry list of reasons as to why this fight hasn't happened. 

While what has been going on behind the scenes in those negotiations will forever remain in the dark, the critics' argument got a little weaker the second Mayweather agreed to fight Canelo. 

This is a big opponent with tremendous power (42-1-1 with 30 knockouts) that many regarded as the stiffest opponent for Mayweather out there. In other words, it's what many were maintaining Money was avoiding in Pacquiao. 

Now that Mayweather not only accepted that fight but dominated it, the case for his elite legacy just got a lot stronger. 

At 36 years old, Mayweather flashed a defense so prodigious that the young and dangerous Canelo was frustrated and made to look completely pedestrian. 

Meanwhile, Money had no problem landing pot shots and overhands. 

He controlled this fight from start to finish and proved he has the tools to baffle any style of fighter, while also not being afraid to take on the biggest current challenge. 

In the end, he emerged from the ring with a resounding knockout blow to all his critics, and he may cherish that more than the victory itself.