Canelo Alvarez stops Billy Joe Saunders after round 8, unifies super middleweight belts

ARLINGTON, Texas – Pound-for-pound king Canelo Alvarez’s march towards boxing historical past appears unstoppable.

Alvarez, boxing’s greatest star, took one other step towards attaining his short-term purpose to turn into the first-ever undisputed tremendous middleweight world champion by pounding Billy Joe Saunders into submission on the finish of the eighth spherical on Saturday evening at AT&T Stadium, the place a United States indoor boxing file crowd introduced at 73,126 turned out to cheer wildly for Alvarez on Cinco de Mayo weekend.

“I knew the battle was going to develop across the eighth spherical,” mentioned Alvarez, who had predicted a knockout win between the eighth and 10 rounds. “It wasn’t as troublesome as I anticipated. I do know my preparation is nice and I enhance day-to-day.”

The earlier American indoor attendance file was 63,352 for the heavyweight championship rematch between Muhammad Ali and Leon Spinks on the Superdome in New Orleans on Sept. 15, 1978.

The most important crowd of any sort in North America for the reason that starting of the coronavirus pandemic — surpassing the 51,838 that attended the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky on Might 1 – noticed Alvarez retain The Ring championship in addition to the WBC and WBA belts whereas additionally seizing Saunders’ WBO title in a damaging efficiency through which he broken Saunders to the top and physique and left him slumped on the stool with a battered proper eye after the eighth spherical.

Saunders was taken to the hospital instantly after the battle with a suspected damaged orbital bone.

The victory leaves Alvarez, a four-division world champion from junior middleweight to mild heavyweight, only one belt in need of turning into the primary 168-pound fighter to carry all the main sanctioning physique titles within the three- or four-belt period, and now his eye is firmly on making an attempt to entice IBF titleholder Caleb Plant into dealing with him on Mexican Independence Day weekend in September.

The opening spherical was a sense out one with Saunders, a former middleweight world titleholder and 2008 Olympian, main the way in which together with his jab and motion whereas Alvarez (56-1-2, 38 KOs), 30, of Mexico, took his time earlier than touchdown just a few physique photographs.

Alvarez continued to work Saunders (30-1, 14 KOs), a 31-year-old southpaw from England, to the physique within the second spherical however he additionally landed a tough proper hand that put Saunders again on his heels.

Saunders turned rather more tentative within the third spherical and began to maneuver and again up rather more than he had within the first two rounds, maybe as a result of he felt Alvarez’s energy in the proper hand within the earlier spherical. Alvarez continued to stalk him and fireplace physique photographs and proper palms, considered one of which caught Saunders, who shook his head as if to say it didn’t damage.

Saunders had some success boxing in opposition to Alvarez within the fifth spherical however he took a number of digging, audible proper palms to the physique within the sixth spherical as Alvarez continued to focus on his flanks and gradual him down.

Saunders, who typically dropped his palms to his aspect nearly daring Alvarez to him, had a tough time getting something occurring offense and with Alvarez transferring straight forward and whacking him to the physique always. It appeared that it was solely going to be a matter of time till he stopped Saunders.

Alvarez had an enormous eighth spherical. Though he didn’t rating a knockdown, he damage Saunders with a left hook to the top and appeared to sense the top was close to, as a result of he raised his fist and motioned for the gang to cheer louder, which they did.

After he landed a strong proper uppercut, Alvarez once more raised his fist towards the gang and the followers responded with one other electrifying roar.

The correct palms continued to rain in and late within the spherical Alvarez bent Saunders over with a physique shot. By the point the eighth spherical was over Saunders’ proper eye was swollen closed and his nook motioned to referee Marc Calo-oy to cease the battle with Saunders on the stool.

“I used to be profitable round-by-round,” Alvarez mentioned. “My battle would enhance round six and 7 and I began to regulate actual fast. I knew this might be closing final result. I knew it. I feel I broke his cheek and knew he wasn’t popping out of the nook. I advised (coach) Eddy (Reynoso) he wasn’t popping out as a result of I broke his cheek. I knew it was it. I’ve the most effective coach. His identify is Eddy. He’s the most effective coach. He inform me and I put together, do that and I do it.”

Alvarez, who was didn’t appear troubled by Saunders’ southpaw stance – he mentioned he wouldn’t be — was forward 78-74, 78-74 and 77-75 on the time of the stoppage.

“He couldn’t see,” Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn mentioned of Saunders. “I spoke with (coach) Mark Tibbs and he wouldn’t let him exit. I assumed he boxed fantastically. Canelo took his time, Billy is so difficult, however Canelo busted him up.”

The uppercut that secured Canelo the victory 💥

(@Autozone) pic.twitter.com/mkWlSzLFm0

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 9, 2021

In accordance with CompuBox statistics, Alvarez landed 73 of 206 punches (35 p.c), together with 39 physique blows and 53 p.c of his energy photographs. Saunders landed 60 of 284 photographs (21 p.c).

The top was a far cry from the bravado Saunders, who was making his third title protection, confirmed within the buildup, when he mentioned that in contrast to different opponents, he was coming to win, not simply to gather a paycheck.

He spent a lot of the promotion complaining about varied points, together with the scale of the ring, however Alvarez gave him his approach — 22 feet-by-22 ft contained in the ropes – so Saunders couldn’t have any excuses if he misplaced a battle that was initially deliberate final Might 2 at T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas. The deal was executed and the press launch able to be blasted out, however when the NBA shut down its season and the sports activities world started to comply with swimsuit as a result of coronavirus pandemic, the battle announcement was placed on maintain after which cancelled.

Alvarez, making his second title protection, gained but once more in dominating vogue throughout a really busy stretch through which he gained his third battle since Dec. 19, when he cruised to a one-sided choice over Callum Smith on the Alamodome in San Antonio to win The Ring and WBA titles and the vacant WBC belt. He returned on Feb. 27 at Onerous Rock Stadium in Miami and destroyed overmatched WBC necessary challenger Avni Yildirim within the third spherical, after which introduced the showdown with Saunders within the ring after the battle.

Now consideration will to show to see if a battle between Alvarez and Plant (21-0, 12 KOs), 28, of Las Vegas, could be made for the undisputed 168-pound crown.

“It’s solely battle to make occur,” Hearn mentioned. “It’s the one battle and I hope Caleb Plant feels the identical approach. I do know he was in an interview the opposite day and didn’t point out a lot about Canelo. Pay attention if we wish to hold the good instances coming in boxing, it’s the one to make in September.

“Finally, Canelo will battle completely anyone. You already know who he desires to battle. He advised me who he desires to battle, Caleb Plant. It’s all as much as Caleb Plant. I’ll communicate to their staff and see the place that takes place. That’s the battle that has to occur for the undisputed at 168 kilos. It has to occur. What’s Caleb Plant going to do?”

It’s the battle that Alvarez desires and desires badly.

“That’s the plan, to go for the belt. I’m coming,” Alvarez mentioned. “I hope that battle could be made simple. I need that battle. Give the followers the most effective battle.”