LAS VEGAS — Canelo Álvarez, the undisputed super middleweight champion successfully defended his world titles by beating Jermell Charlo in a dominantly unanimous decision (119-109, 118-109 twice) from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Canelo (60-2-2) showed strength from start to finish and masterfully floored the junior middleweight boxer Charlo (35-2-1).
“I just felt like I wasn’t me in there,” said Charlo in media statements. “I don’t make excuses for myself, so it is what it is. I take my punches and roll with it. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.”
Charlo’s defense started cracking in the initial rounds when Canelo’s power hooks had a clear effect on Charlo forcing him to change tact and start defending himself in the first half of the fight. Canelo broke through in round seven, with a looping overhand right that stupefied Charlo and forced him to his knees.
“Truthfully, I could feel the difference in the weight,” said Charlo in media reports. “I picked up 14 pounds. I am undisputed in my weight division. You fall short sometimes, but you just have to keep on pushing. I’m proud of myself. He hit me with some hard shots. I thought I got mine off. I’m the little Charlo and I represent that.”
“We worked on attacking the body,” said Canelo in media reports. “We know he’s a great fighter. He knows how to move in the ring. We worked on attacking the body for three months. For three months in the mountains without my family, without everything.”
“I still love boxing,” said Canelo in media reports. “I love boxing so much. Boxing is my life. It made me the person I am today. I love boxing so much because of my fans, too I’ll face whoever. I don’t care.”
(Additional reporting provided by Joseph Hammond)
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