Canelo annihilates Kirkland inside 3 rounds!

Photo:Ed Mulholland/Golden Boy/Golden Boy via Getty Images

It was the brutal firefight we had all expected but unfortunately it only lasted 3 rounds!

On Saturday night, in front of over 31,000 fight fans at the Minute Maid Park in Houton TX. Jr. middleweight Saul “Canelo” Alvarez annihilated James Kirkland inside 3 rounds and absolutely exceeded all expectations.

Kirkland (32-1, 28 KOs) came out at the bell and looked to test the 24 year-old  early, unloading a barrage of punches that had Canelo pinned against the ropes. However, a left hook stunned Kirkland midway through the opening round. Moments later, a right hand put Kirkland down on the canvas and clearly hurt. A flurry of shots had Kirkland nearly out against the ropes as the bell sounded.

Canelo (44-1-1, 31 KOs) continued to punish Kirkland to the head and body throughout the second round but somehow Kirkland remained on his feet and was still able to fire back on occasions. Canelo looked a little weary at the end of the second.

Kirkland looked to have his legs back at the start of the third and was pressing the action when a combination stopped Kirkland in his tracks. Moments later a vicious uppercut put Kirkland back on the canvas. He was up by the count of six but was in no hurry to engage. Canelo ran across the ring and fired off a crippling right hand that spun Kirkland around before putting him out on the canvas. The fight was immediately waved off with Kirkland stretched out and unresponsive. The official time of the stoppage was 2:19.

The KO blow was so brutal that Kirkland, after coming to, was unaware that he had been knocked out.

“Kirkland is a great fighter and we knew he was going to come in and throw punches and at the beginning we were both a little exhausted but I knew I’d win the fight” said Alvarez “I’m ready for any rival, I don’t run from anyone”

I went in there and was putting work together but evidently I left my my left hand down and he came over the top and caught me with a shot and the referee called it off” said Kirkland “[Canelo] is a crafty fighter, he was on his P’s and Q’s and he showed it tonight”