Canelo vs. Khan Results: Round-by-Round Analysis and Recap

With a single punch, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez ended what had been a very taut and competitive bout. At two minutes, 37 minutes into Round 6, the Mexican superstar feinted with a jab and then threw a perfectly timed lead right that connected smack on Amir Khan's chin, knocking the British challenger out before he even hit the canvas. 

This fight will no doubt be remembered by the sudden way it ended. But there was more to the story than one big punch. Khan fought a smart, tactical bout to carry the fight's early rounds. 

Alvarez remained patient and invested in a solid body attack that clearly slowed Khan down. Both men showed high-level technical ability. 

It came as no surprise to anybody that once the fight was over, all anybody wanted to talk about was Canelo vs. Gennady Golovkin—the mandatory challenger to Alvarez's WBC middleweight belt and the obvious No. 1 contender to Canelo's lineal crown.

Even Khan, and his trainer Virgil Hunter, goaded Alvarez to make the fight, when HBO's Max Kellerman interviewed them after the fight.

Alvarez deserves to celebrate this performanceSaturday night. But there's no doubt GGG is the fight he needs to make, if he wants to keep his heroic reputation.

Round 1

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Amir Khan feinted with the jab in the opening seconds before firing two quick range-finders. At about 30 seconds into the round, Khan landed a blistering right hand. Alvarez missed with a lunging lead hook. 

Khan threw another quick flurry before moving out of range. Almost halfway through the round, Canelo managed to connect with a hook to the body. 

Khan moved into range, but Canelo landed a hard counter hook. Inside of a minute, Khan continued to let his quick hands go before circling back out of range. 

This was very much a feeling-out round, but with good, selective aggression from both men.

Round 2

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As Round 2 began, Khan began to circle around the outside of the ring, with Canelo Alvarez in pursuit. Alvarez swung and missed with a heavy hook about 45 seconds into the round. Khan landed seconds later with a blazing one-two. 

Khan peppered with his jab and landed a very good straight right about halfway through the round. Alvarez continued to remain patient, looking to score to Khan's body when possible. 

Inside the final minute, Khan continued to remain mostly out of range. This was a very competitive fight through the first two rounds, but Khan was winning tactically.

Round 3

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Alvarez started Round 3 once again in pursuit of Khan. About 30 seconds into the round, Canelo landed a good left hook, but Khan handled it well. 

Alvarez threw twice to the body, landing glancing blows. Just after a minute into the round, Khan landed a solid lead hook upstairs to Alvarez. 

Through the first half of the third round, Alvarez continued to follow, rather than cut off Khan. With only about 30 second left, Alvarez threw a two punch combination as Khan was momentarily trapped on the ropes, but Khan avoided both shots. 

With about 10 seconds in the round, Khan landed a nice right hand that may have sealed the round for him.

Round 4

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Alvarez landed a body shot as Khan stumbled into a clinch, 30 seconds into Round 4. Khan landed a nice right hand over the top at about one minute into the round, but Alvarez absorbed it and landed a very hard body shot. 

Alvarez landed another good body shot at about 1:45 of the round. Alvarez missed with a right just over halfway into the round, and Khan returned a nice two-punch combination. 

Alvarez began to get his jab going in this round, allowing him to do a better job of closing distance. He landed another hard right hook to the body with about 30 seconds left in the round.

Alvarez jabbed to the body, then followed up with a hard right to the ribs. This was Alvarez's best round of the fight so far.

Round 5

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About 10 seconds into the round, Alvarez landed a very good left hook upstairs. Khan was much more stationary during the first minute of this round. 

Alvarez landed a hard right upstairs just before the round's halfway point. Canelo remained patient, while keeping Khan in front of him. He landed two more good body shots during the second minute of the round. 

Canelo threw a jab upstairs and then dropped down to throw a blistering right into the body with about 45 seconds left in the round. He landed two very hard body punches just before the 10 second mark. Khan fired back gamely.

Round 6

John Locher/Associated Press

For the second straight round, Khan started out flatfooted and without as much movement. Alvarez again remained patient, keeping Khan in front of him and looking for his body punches. 

Just after a minute into the round, Canelo threw a beautiful two-punch counter—a right hook to the body and then a left hook upstairs. 

Khan remained very game, and his hands still looked as quick as in the opening rounds. He landed a nice straight right about halfway through the round. 

But after that punch, Canelo was again in control of the round, landing to the body and findng the space to come upstairs between Khan's own punches. 

With only about 30 seconds left in the round, Canelo feinted with the jab and then caught Khan throwing with a beautiful right to the chin. Khan went down hard and appeared to be out cold as he hit the deck. 

Referee Kenny Bayless quickly waved off the fight.