Canelo vs. Khan results and full fight coverage

Amir Khan got knocked out by Canelo Alvarez. It’s what almost everyone expected. Khan, a welterweight, took a risk fighting middleweight champion Alvarez at a 155-pound catchweight. Few thought he had a real chance. Most thought he would get stopped.

Khan (31-4, 19 KO) boxed pretty well before he was sparked in the sixth round. He showcased his superior hand speed, his ability to box against a bigger, stronger man, and as always, his mere presence in the ring in such a precarious situation demonstrated that he’s got heart to spare. If anything, Khan gained respect for what he did on Saturday night, even though he lost, and even though he was spectacularly knocked out.

Following Saturday night’s expected knockout of Amir Khan, there is only one fight for Canelo Alvarez. Or, well, that’s not really true. There are many fights he could take. But the fight everyone wants to see, now more than ever, is Alvarez defending the lineal middleweight championship against the man considered by most to be the true best middleweight in the world: Gennady Golovkin.

Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 KO) and Golovkin (35-0, 32 KO) are two of the hottest names in boxing. They’re the 1-2 fighters in the middleweight division. And they’ve been circling one another since last November, when Alvarez defeated Miguel Cotto to win the WBC title and the Ring Magazine championship.

It’s no surprise that Canelo Alvarez knocked out Amir Khan to retain his WBC and Ring Magazine middleweight titles on Saturday night, but the knockout itself was a real stunner, a KO of the Year contender in a year that has already had quite a few.

Khan (31-4, 19 KO) boxed very well, all things considered, but there was a tenseness to the fight that came from the belief that any single shot could very well end it. Khan had never fought over 147 pounds before -- this fight was at a 155-pound catchweight -- and has long been considered to have weak punch resistance for a top fighter.

Canelo Alvarez defended his WBC and Ring Magazine middleweight championship on Saturday against Amir Khan with a sixth-round knockout at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Canelo-Khan aired on HBO pay-per-view tonight, with three undercard fights. Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 KO) was the healthy favorite in the fight, as Khan (31-4, 19 KO) came up in weight and there were concerns about his ability to take punches from the naturally bigger and stronger man.

Amir Khan still trying to move on the outside, Canelo Alvarez still trying to apply pressure, but not recklessly so. He doesn’t feel urgency yet, and probably doesn’t need to.

Canelo with a hard body shot, a right hand, and then a left up top. Canelo now in control -- the last round felt like a real shift in momentum, and now for sure, Canelo Alvarez has closed the distance effectively. Khan shows off his speed again, trying to get himself back into the moment. Alvarez cutting off the ring better still. Khan not able to move as freely anymore.

We’ve had about the best possible fight so far, or at least the most interesting. Canelo lands a shot early that appears to shake Khan just a little bit, but not terribly bad. Still, Canelo is getting closer to getting the sort of fight he wants. And that’s just upping the tension, which is already high.

Canelo continues to get closer and closer, but not quite there. Khan laying back a bit more than he did earlier. He looks comfortable, but not quite as nervy or confident as before. Khan throwing to the head a lot. Canelo is investing a bit in the body, doing better last round. But these are still odd tactics from Canelo -- too much he’s letting Khan stay outside, without serious pressure.

We’ve got Amir Khan up 2-0, as does HBO’s Harold Lederman. It’s hard to find a way to give the rounds to Alvarez, as Khan has looked very fast and very smart so far. He’s following the plan.

Canelo again trying to step up the pressure, lands a hook, and Khan takes it fine. Khan with a jab to the body, left hook and right upstairs. Canelo struggling with the hand speed of Khan, no doubt about that. Canelo still struggling to get going in the first half of this round.

Amir Khan will hope for more of what he was able to do in the first round, but Canelo Alvarez is coming out a little quicker here to start the second round, trying to step up the pressure and bully Khan. Canelo throws a hook, misses badly, and Khan fires back with a 1-2 that lands.

Right hand to the body from Alvarez. Clinch now as Canelo misses with a hook, after Khan jabs a bit. Canelo throws a long right, it’s short. Khan moving laterally nicely so far. Khan trying to jab to the body. Canelo with a left up top, partially blocked. Khan’s speed winning the day at the moment. Canelo misses another wild right attempt.

Bell has sounded, and we’re underway at the new T-Mobile Arena. Khan shoots a couple jabs. Jab to the body from Khan, then a hard right up top. Showing his speed there. That’s his weapon. He has legitimately great hand speed. Canelo with a jab, poking it out there at range. Khan flashing his speed again, throws four shots, a hook got in enough.

Canelo taking his time, throws a hook to the body, Khan gets off the ropes quickly. Canelo’s right cross misses. Canelo with a hook, catching Khan coming in throwing a right hand. Left hook lead from Canelo, partially blocked. Khan throwing in combination again, nothing lands. Canelo pokes out a couple more jabs. Khan with the speed again, throwing some combinations. Good start for Khan, no question about that.

Canelo Alvarez faces Amir Khan in Saturday night’s big fight for the middleweight championship, and if you’re traveling, or you’re a cord cutter, or there’s no theater near you carrying the event, there is an online streaming pay-per-view option for the show.

You can order the broadcast at CaneloKhan.com, which will set you back $69.99 like the regular pay-per-view, but is a viable option for those who are otherwise out of options. The show will start at 9 p.m. ET, with a four-fight card headlined by the 12-round bout between Canelo (46-1-1, 32 KO) and Khan (31-3, 19 KO), for Canelo’s WBC and Ring Magazine middleweight titles.