Five Most Memorable Canelo KOs Including Light Heavyweight Glory

The accomplishments of Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs) have helped him become one of the finest boxers to come out of México.

Currently the undisputed super middleweight champion, the Mexican has won world titles across four different weight classes. He has headlined a number of PPVs and is one of the most well-known fighters in the world today. Big Fight Weekend takes a trip down memory lane and looks at five memorable Canelo KOs, as we build up to his next fight against Jaime Munguia.

Five Most Memorable Canelo KOs

Caleb Plant

The last time Canelo won by stoppage proved to be memorable as it was the fight that made him the undisputed champion. In 2021, he stopped Caleb Plant (22-2, 13 KOs) in the eleventh round at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. All three judges had Canelo in the lead going into round 11. Plant went to the canvas twice in that round before the fight was waved off by the referee.

Billy Joe Saunders

On his path to undisputed, Canelo also had to face Billy Joe Saunders (30-1, 14 KOs). Their fight took place at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. Saunders had some success in this fight, but a right uppercut in round eight signalled the beginning of the end. He wound up not coming out for the ninth, giving Canelo an eighth-round stoppage victory.

Sergey Kovalev

Canelo moved up to light heavyweight for the first time when he took on Sergey Kovalev (35-4-1, 29 KOs). This bout took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Both men fought on even terms for the majority of the clash according to the judges. However, a left hook followed by a right hand sent Kovalev to the canvas, making Canelo the new WBO light heavyweight champion.

Amir Khan

In one of the most brutal knockouts of his career, Canelo stopped Amir Khan (34-6, 21 KOs) to retain his WBC middleweight title in 2016. Khan moved up from welterweight to make the fight happen and was ahead on one of the scorecards going into round six. Ultimately, a clean right hand from Canelo had Khan on the canvas for a while and gave him the win.

James Kirkland

Hard-hitting American James Kirkland (34-3, 30 KOs) did not even make it to round four when he took on the Mexican. Canelo won via third-round stoppage at the Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX. Kirkland went down in the first before being dropped twice more in the third. In the end, Kirkland’s power was not enough to avoid being dominated in the fight.