Saul “Canelo” Alvarez stood on the ropes in the corner of the ring with his glove raised Saturday night and soaked in the adulation of…
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez stood on the ropes in the corner of the ring with his glove raised Saturday night and soaked in the adulation of a sellout crowd at Madison Square Garden. This was his first appearance at the World’s Most Famous Arena, and it proved to be a fitting venue for someone rapidly becoming one of the world’s most famous boxers.
Moments earlier, Alvarez had made quick work of England’s Rocky Fielding to take his WBA super middleweight championship. Alvarez (51-1-2 with 35 KOs) dropped Fielding (27-2,15 KOs) four times before referee Ricky Gonzalez stopped the fight at 2:38 of the third round.
It was no contest from the start as Alvarez unleashed a relentless body attack Fielding couldn’t withstand.
Alvarez, of Guadalajara, Mexico, was fighting three months after scoring the biggest victory of his career, a majority decision in his September rematch in Las Vegas with Gennady “GGG” Golovkin. Alvarez claimed the WBA and WBC middleweight titles in that bout and later signed a $365 million contract with DAZN.
This was his first bout under the five-bout deal.
“To fight in New York is another landmark in my career,” Alvarez said before the bout. “I want it to be the first of many more.”
Alvarez, 28, moved up in weight to challenge Fielding for his 168-pound title. After winning titles at 154 and 160 pounds, Alvarez was looking to join a small list of Mexican fighters who have won championships in three divisions.
