Canelo Alvarez demonstrated his devastating precision and power by sending Billy Joe Saunders to the hospital on Saturday night.
In front of 73,126 fans – an indoor attendance record for boxing in North America – Saunders suffered a horrific eye injury and the first loss of his career.
It was so bad that Saunders coach Mark Tibbs would not allow him to participate in the ninth round and the Briton was then taken to hospital with a suspected fractured eye socket.
The big right counter uppercut that caught up with him in the eighth hurt him, but it quickly became clear how much damage the punch had done.
The champion, however, suspected that his power had been enough to finish the fight and began to celebrate while Saunders was still watched in his corner.
And who can blame him when you watch the devastating slow-motion photo?
“I knew the fight was going to develop around the eighth round,” Canelo said afterwards. “
He predicted a knockout between the eighth and tenth rounds and added, “It wasn’t as difficult as I expected. I know my preparation is good and I am improving day by day.
Canelo is a world champion in four divisions, from junior middleweight to light heavyweight and needs a belt to become the first 168-pound fighter to hold all of the major sanctioning corps titles in the Era of the Three-or-Three. four belts.
Now a showdown between him and IBF title holder Caleb Plant on Mexico’s Independence Day weekend in September could take place.
“I’m coming,” said Canelo, when asked about the fight against Plant.