YES HE CAN
Canelo Alvarez smashes Kovalev with brutal KO to land WBO light heavyweight belt and win title in fourth weight class
SAUL 'CANELO' ALVAREZ cemented himself as one of the greatest boxers ever as he became a four-weight world champion with a stunning knockout of Sergey Kovalev.
Canelo whacked the Russian champion with a left-hook and his killer instincts set up a right hand that left the 36-year-old hanging onto the ropes in the 11th round.
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Alvarez, 29, joins legendary Mexicans Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, and Jorge Arce on the list of four-weight world champions.
And he added the WBO light heavyweight belt to his collection. This is the first time he has fought at the weight.
After winning his eighth career title, Canelo, who has undergone a huge body transformation to make light heavyweight, told the Las Vegas crowd: “I provide history and guarantees.
“The plan overall was to be patient. I'm good at waiting. All credit to him [Kovalev].
“He's a great fighter. We have to see for 2020. We have to see what's best for us.
“Golovkin is not a challenge for me. If it's business, then why not?”
It was a positive start for long-reigning light-heavyweight ruler Kovalev, as 175lb newbie Canelo eased his way into the first round, which was delayed by 90 minutes so as not to clash with UFC 244.
In the second Alvarez - who lives a life of luxury thanks to the millions he has made in the ring - just grazed the chin of the champion, and made the Russian miss and returned fire with educated counters to the body.
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Kovalev was consistent with his jab and pumped out a right hand but nothing troubling the challenger.
In rounds three and four Canelo was tempting the champion to throw, and when he did, the Mexican would make a deft lean back and fire in a precise counter, making his opponent look one step off the mark.
But Alvarez was left outworked at times, as Kovalev stuck his jab out and let his hands go, despite hitting the gloves of the challenger, who was comfortable in defence.
In the middle rounds again Canelo’s best work came on the counter, ducking under some speculative swings from his opponent, returning fire with heavy body work.
As Alvarez walked forward, Kovalev used his weight well but left himself little room to get any meat on his shots.
In round eight Kovalev landed a big left hook and started to outpunch the speedy challenger - who was not as active with his counter-punching.
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Round nine began with a solid Kovalev combination down the middle, hammering Canelo’s jaw.
But as the challenger looked to be losing the round, he landed a massive right hook and made the champion miss with a wild attempt, returning fire with an excellent counter.
With it all to play for with two rounds remaining, Alvarez made a fast start in the 11th.
A counter left hook followed by a sharp right snapped Kovalev’s head back, before the challenger sunk in a heavy hook to the Russian’s ribcage.
Not willing to let his momentum slip, or give Kovalev any room to breathe, Canelo kept the pressure up.
A quick combination sent Kovelev reeling back, and Alvarez could smell the finish.
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Canelo whipped in a left hook leaving Kovalev defenceless with his hands down and the whopping right that followed closed the show.
Kovalev crashed through the ropes - with Canelo in the process adding weight to his argument that he is the world's best boxer ahead of Vasiliy Lomachenko and Terence Crawford.
Canelo actively holds belts at middleweight, super-middle and now light-heavy, and walked away with £27million for his round 11 finish.
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