American defeats Mexican Saul Alvarez in Las Vegas
Pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather stretched his unbeaten string to 45 straight fights with a 12-round majority decision over Mexican champ Saul Alvarez on Saturday.
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Right might: American Floyd Mayweather Jr (right) lands a right hand at Mexican Saul Alvarez during their WBC/WBA 154-pound title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday. Pic/AFP
The 36-year-old, who earned the biggest purse in boxing history at $41 million, managed to win the showdown between the two undefeated fighters and wrest Alvarez’s World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association super welterweight belts.
“It is about skills,” Mayweather said. “I came out tonight and showed my skills. I just took my time and took the opportunities when I got them. I can’t say this is my best performance.”
Mayweather fought a brilliant tactical fight against the younger and stronger Alvarez in front of the crowd of 16,746 at the MGM Grand Hotel's Grand Garden Arena.
He used his jab and superior hand speed to keep Alvarez at bay, but Mayweather still only managed to win on two of the three judge’s scorecards.
Judge CJ Ross surprisingly scored it a draw, 114-114, while Craig Metcalfe had it 117-111 and Dave Moretti scored it 116-112 in favour of Mayweather. “I’m not in control of what the judges do,” Mayweather scoffed. “I am in shock (by) whoever had it even.
” This was just the second fight for Mayweather since he was released from prison after serving a sentence for assaulting the mother of his children.
Mayweather gave away 13 years in age and 15 pounds to the younger and stronger Alvarez, who moved down in weight for the showdown.
The seventh was one of Mayweather’s best rounds as he landed several combination punches early before backing Alvarez up into a corner and hitting him with a right uppercut that snapped the Mexican’s head back.
Mayweather came into the fight at 150 pounds, just a couple pounds lighter than he was at Friday’s weigh in. The Mexican entered the fight at 165, 13 pounds heavier than Friday’s weigh in.u00a0
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