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Canelo-Kovalev round-by-round results: Alvarez claims light heavyweight title via KO

WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev will defend his belt against Canelo Alvarez. (Paul Rosales/Yahoo Sports)
Sergey Kovalev lost his WBO light heavyweight title to Canelo Alvarez on Saturday in Las Vegas. (Paul Rosales/Yahoo Sports)

Canelo Alvarez cleanly and viciously knocked out Sergey Kovalev in Round 11 for one of the biggest wins of his career.

In the co-main event, Ryan Garcia, who recently signed a five year extension with Golden Boy Promotions, easily took care of business and knocked out Romero Duno in the first round.

Main Card full results

  • Canelo Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs) def. Sergey Kovalev (34-4-1, 29 KOs) via KO at 2:15 of R11

Round 1: Both men start slowly. Kovalev is throwing his jab and trying to find the range. Alvarez is moving forward and probing, but not throwing a lot. Alvarez lands a hook with about 10 seconds left. Kovalev’s round, 10-9.

Round 2: Both fighters come out more determined and are throwing harder punches. Alvarez lands a left to the head and then another left to the body. Kovalev is still jabbing, but he’s firing it with more authority. Alvarez lands a digging hook to the rib cage with 30 seconds left. Alvarez’s round, 10-9.

Round 3: Kovalev is backing up a lot, but he is keeping a high work rate with his jab. Alvarez is stalking but he is not throwing a lot, and doesn’t land much of significance. Kovalev lands a nice combination with a minute left. Kovalev’s round, 10-9.

Round 4: Kovalev sticks with his jab, but Alvarez is beginning to cut the distance. He’s getting closer and starting to dig consistently to the body. He not only lands a couple of hard hooks to Kovalev’s rib cage, he goes to the head and lands a good right. Alvarez’s round, 10-9.

Round 5: Alvarez is stalking and backing Kovalev. He lands a hard hook to the body and you can see Kovalev protecting his ribs with his right arm. Alvarez now cornering Kovalev and pinning him at times on the ropes. Alvarez’s round, 10-9.

Round 6: Alvarez keeps being aggressive and backing Kovalev up. Kovalev is throwing more, but his punches aren’t hard and many are blocked. Alvarez has landed several counters to head and body. Alvarez’s round, 10-9.

Round 7: Not much action in the round, but Kovalev lands a good combination to the head with a minute left. Alvarez is unable to get much off. Kovalev’s round, 10-9.

Round 8: Alvarez is suddenly not throwing a lot and spent a lot of time in the round moving and circle. Kovalev stuck to his plan of jabbing, though he did land a nice straight right. Kovalev’s round, 10-9.

Round 9: Alvarez finds some magic with a lead right hand, which he connects on twice. Alvarez fights with more urgency and pushes Alvarez back several times. Alvarez’s round, 10-9.

Round 10: Pace is slower in the 10th. Kovalev several times got pinned in the corner and took a straight right counter to the chin as a result. Alvarez’s round, 10-9.

Round 11: Alvarez lands a right hand and a left hook and Kovalev goes down. Referee Russell Mora stops it and Alvarez is your winner. - Kevin Iole

  • Ryan Garcia (19-0, 16 KOs) def. Romero Duno (21-2, 16 KOs) via KO in R1

  • Seniesa Estrada (18-0) def. Marlen Esparza (7-1) via unanimous decision

  • Blair Cobbs (13-0-1) def. Carlos Ortiz (11-5) via TKO (stoppage)

Undercard results

  • Evan Holyfield (1-0) def. Nick Winstead (0-2) via TKO at 0:16 of R1

  • Bakhram Murtazaliev (16-0, 13 KOs) vs. Jorge Fortea (20-1-1, 6 KOs)

  • Tristan Kalkreuth (3-0) def. Twon Smith (3-4) via unanimous decision (40-36 x 2, 39-37)

  • Meiirim Nursultanov (13-0) def. Cristian Olivas (16-6) via unanimous decision (100-90 x 3)

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