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29 March 2024

Amir Khan wants mega fight with Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao

Published
By Boxing Correspondent and Agencies

British boxer Amir Khan refuses to throw in the towel despite his devastating defeat to WBC middleweight champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez on Saturday.

Khan, 29, suffered the fourth loss of his professional career when he was knocked cold with a big right hand by the Mexican in Las Vegas.

The former WBA and IBF light-welterweight champion from Bolton has ruled out retirement after being floored by an overhand right which saw him being hospitalised.

Hailed for his bravado in stepping up two divisions, Khan admits he may have underestimated the power of Alvarez.

"No, I just stepped up too far. I'm in the peak of my career, everything was going fine until that one big shot," Khan told Skysports.com shrugging off talk of retirement.

"I've still got a lot left in me. The future still holds big fights, I don't think this put me down in any way. Everything was going my way, I was winning the fight," said Khan who is a natural welterweight and remains the mandatory challenger to America's WBC champion Danny Garcia.

However, Khan who was snubbed by Floyd Mayweather is still hopeful of a mega fight with his former stablemate and retired Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao.

"I've got the Garcia fight there. There are big fights for me in America, even Miguel Cotto - bringing him to the UK - or Manny Pacquiao, I'd like to fight in the UK next, hopefully December," he added.

Devastating

Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez landed a devastating right hook to knock out Amir Khan in the sixth round and claim the WBC middleweight title clash in Las Vegas on Saturday.

After even opening rounds, Mexican Alvarez closed it at 2:37 in the sixth when he feigned a left jab before delivering a rattling hook to knock his British opponent cold.

Khan, 29, came to his senses well after the bout had been decided and was taken to the hospital. He later tweeted out a photo assuring he was fine.

"Im okay everyone, that's boxing for you, congrats to @Canelo monster punch, much love to all the fans!" tweeted Khan, who moved up two weight divisions to take on Alvarez.

 

The former WBA and WBC super welterweight champion, who lost both world titles on a majority decision to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2013, entered the night as a heavy favorite but Khan (31-4, 19 knockouts) seemed to control the first couple of rounds with his hand speed.

The Mexican power-puncher caught up with Khan in the third round and began to cut off the ring and push his opponent against the ropes.

In the fifth, Khan absorbed a left hook and sustained a cut over his right eye.

Alvarez got on his knees to check on Amir Khan after knocking him unconscious with a big right hand in the sixth round of their title fight.

Then he went over to check on some future business with fellow middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, who was watching ringside.

"I invited him to come into the ring," Alvarez said. "Right now I will put the gloves on again."

It's a fight both Golovkin and boxing fans have been waiting for to happen, though the weight could be an issue.

Alvarez wants the bout to be less than the 160-pound middleweight limit, while Golovkin, who holds his own piece of the middleweight crown, vows to fight at his best weight.

"I am old school," Golovkin said just before the fight. "Middleweight is 160. I respect the sport of boxing."

Against Khan, Alvarez needed only one big right hand to turn a close fight into a smashing knockout that left the British challenger out cold on his back in the middle of the ring.

Struggling with Khan's speed, Alvarez unleashed a long right hand that send Khan backward on the canvas, where referee Kenny Bayless didn't even bother to count him out at 2:37 of the sixth round.

Alvarez retained his piece of the middleweight title, but it was not without some nervous moments for his fans who packed the new T-Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas Strip.

Khan was more than holding his own in a tactical fight when the right hand suddenly ended it.

"People have known me only for my power," Alvarez said. "I have many more qualities in the ring and I showed that.  I think people saw more of me."

Khan, a 6-1 underdog, had vowed to use his speed to confound Alvarez and his plan seemed to be working.

He fought in spurts, landing combinations and seemingly frustrating Alvarez with his movement.

But a right hand that came out of nowhere landed flush against Khan's chin, and he was out before he hit the canvas.

"I was getting in the ring with a big guy," Khan said. "Unfortunately, I didn't make it to the end."

Khan was taken to the hospital after the fight, but promoter Oscar De La Hoya said he appeared to be fine and that the move was
precautionary.

Khan's head snapped back when he hit the canvas and he appeared out for several minutes before being revived.

Alvarez was making the first defence of the WBC title he won from Miguel Cotto in November, though the fight was fought at a catch weight of 155 pounds.

The WBC has said it will take the tile from Alvarez if he does not begin talks for a fight with Golovkin within 15 days.

"I don't fear anyone," Alvarez said. "We don't come to play in this sport."

Khan, for one, believes it's a fight that has to happen, and soon.

"I think it's time that Canelo steps in the ring with Triple G," Khan said.

A pro-Alvarez crowd of 16,540 filled the new arena on the Las Vegas Strip for his first fight on the Mexican holiday weekend that Floyd Mayweather Jr. usually fought on.

They came expecting to see Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 knockouts) put on a show, though he had trouble with Khan's speed and movement in the early rounds.

Alvarez chased after Khan (31-4) from the first round on, trying to cut the ring off and corner him on the ropes.

He was largely unsuccessful, and Khan answered with combinations to the head, though they seemed to have little effect on the red-haired Mexican champion.

Alvarez was up on two ringside judges' scorecards when the fight ended, while Khan was leading by one point on the third.

Ringside punch stats showed Khan landing 48 of 166 punches to 64 of 170 for Alvarez.

Khan, who spent years unsuccessfully chasing bouts with Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, had to put on weight for Alvarez but was still the smaller fighter.

"I'm a natural 147-pounder and this challenge came and it was hard to turn down," Khan said. "My natural weight is 147 and I will probably go back down to that."

Khan's trainer, Virgil Hunter, joined in the chorus of those who want to see Alvarez and Golovkin fight soon.

"He's got to stop hiding behind the flag and fight the fight that we all want to see," Hunter said of Alvarez.

Spectacular fashion

Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez successfully defended his World Boxing Council middleweight title in spectacular fashion Saturday with a devastating sixth-round knockout of Amir Khan in Las Vegas.

The 25-year-old Mexican dropped Khan with a straight right hand over a left jab that sent the Briton crumbling to the canvas with just 23 seconds left in the round.

The back of Khan's head bounced off the deck, prompting his corner to rush to his aide as he lay there motionless for a couple of minutes.

Khan eventually got up and went to his corner as the savage end, to what was supposed to be the biggest fight of his career, will undoubtedly strengthen the notion that he has a soft chin.

It was a shocking end to what had been a surprisingly close fight up to that point as Khan moved up two weight classes to face the bigger champ.

The 29-year-old Khan started strong and even won the first couple of rounds before Alvarez worked his way into the fight at the brand new T-Mobile Arena.

Alvarez is now mandated by the WBC to fight unbeaten two-belt champ Gennady Golovkin, who was at ringside Saturday.

At Friday's weigh-in, both boxers scaled 155 pounds, bang on the catch-weight limit.

Many Mexicans were in Las Vegas to celebrate the Cinco de Mayo festival weekend, meaning the majority of the crowd was on Alvarez's side.

There was also a vocal contingent of Khan's fans, who made the trip from Britain for the title fight.

Also in attendance at ringside for the fight were boxing legends Evander Holyfield, Roberto Duran and Roy Jones as well as the fight promoter Oscar de la Hoya.

Alvarez-Khan was the first boxing match to take place at the 20,000-capacity T-Mobile Arena. The $375 million facility opened last month.

Stunning

Khan says he is going down to 147 after his stunning defeat.

Khan is back on his feet and says he is OK.

Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez has knocked out Briton Amir Khan with a huge right in round six to retain the WBC middleweight title.

Amir Khan is knocked out in round six by Canelo right.

Compubox says Canelo has landed 53/143 punches while Khan hs got in 41/140.

Round Five: The tide seems to be turning to Canelo's favour as he lands more blows.

Round Four: Canelo is targeting Khan's body rolling a right hand. But Khan is ahead after four rounds dancing away.

Round Three: Canelo lands a crunching left early in the round but Khan's chin passes the test.

Khan uses the ring to stay out of range before tying up his great Mexian rival.

Round Two: Canelo loses another round due to Khan's footwork and speed. Khan is in dazzling form.

Round One: Khan landed a nice combo 30 seconds into the fight, and had a nice first round. Canelo is stalking him but so far Khan fight plan working.

"We are one up," says Khan's trainer Virgil Hunter.

Amir Khan is taking inspiration from Leicester City's remarkable Premier League title triumph as he prepares for a daunting battle with World Boxing Council middleweight champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in Las Vegas on Saturday.

The 29-year-old Khan will start as a massive underdog when he climbs into the ring to face the hard-hitting Alvarez at the sparkling new 20,000-seat T-Mobile Arena.

Khan, who normally fights at welterweight, is stepping up by two divisions to face Alvarez, a destructive puncher who has compiled an impressive 46-1 record with 32 knockouts.

The world title showdown is billed as a classic contrast of styles, pitting the elusiveness and speed of Khan (31-3, 19 knockouts) against the brute strength of the naturally bigger Alvarez.

But in a week when the exploits of 5,000-1 shots Leicester have captivated the sporting world, Khan believes he is able to write another fairytale win.

"I'm seen as the underdog in this fight against Canelo but I feel this is the year of the underdog," Khan said after arriving in Las Vegas this week.

"What Leicester City achieved is absolutely amazing. You would have been called crazy if you thought that Leicester would win the title at the start of the season - it's such an inspiring story.

"I'm definitely going to use that to help me. I'm ready to shock the world and beat Canelo. I know I'm ready for this fight and want to get in the ring right now."

Yet the bullishness of the challenger cannot mask the fact that even his trainer, the San Francisco-based Virgil Hunter, was sceptical about the wisdom of choosing to fight Alvarez.

"Initially I didn't like the fight. But I hadn't seen Amir. So when he came to camp I was surprised to see how much he had grown," Hunter said.

"Middleweights can knock out heavyweights. I don't think the weight will be that much of a factor. I think the weight might be a bit exaggerated in terms of Canelo's effectiveness."

Khan's corner will hope the Briton's mesmerizing hand speed will give him the advantage against Alvarez, whose only defeat came against another fighter with similar skills, the now retired Floyd Mayweather, in 2013.

The fight could hinge on whether Khan will be able to stick and move for 12 rounds while simultaneously avoiding Alvarez's heaviest body blows.

Alvarez is confident he will be able to hunt down an opponent who continues to face questions about his chin after more than a decade as a professional.

"I'm very happy with the work that I've done - he's a very fast, elusive, tricky fighter. I know the work I've done and I'm confident I can go in there and break him down," Alvarez said.

"He will be surprised. Many think it's just about my power but when they get in the ring they realise that's not all there is."

Alvarez's trainer Chepo Reynoso acknowledged Khan's trademark speed. "Yes, he's fast - but Saul also is not a turtle," Reynoso warned.