Live Blog: Canelo shuts Chavez Jr. out for unanimous decision win

By Jesse Granger

Published Saturday, May 6, 2017 | 6:13 p.m.

Updated Saturday, May 6, 2017 | 9:27 p.m.

Canelo defeats Chavez Jr. via unanimous decision (120-108 3x)

The heavily-favored Saul “Canelo” Alvarez did exactly what he said he would do Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena – Dismantle rival Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

Alvarez picked Chavez Jr. apart early, battered him late and walked away with a 120-108 unanimous decision.

Alvarez (51-1-1, 34 KOs) won all 12 rounds on all three judges score cards and was barely touched by Chavez Jr. (50-3-1) in a fight that didn’t quite live up to the hype.

Neither fighter touched the canvas, but Alvarez did wobble Chavez Jr. a couple times early in the fight with massive, looping combinations.

Alvarez out-landed Chavez Jr. 228-71 according to CompuBox, and landed 145 power punches to Chavez Jr.'s 56.

The record-setting crowd of 20,510 booed the fight during the latter stages as Alvarez cruised to the win.

While not the exciting performance some hoped for, Alvarez once again proved he is one of the best boxers on the planet. After the fight Alvarez announced his next opponent will be Gennady Golovkin in September. Golovkin walked out to the ring and the two exchanged words before red, white and green confetti showered the arena to celebrate the fight announcement.

Round 11

Boos have been the soundtrack for the past couple rounds and that continues here. Chavez Jr. has been resigned to simply covering up and is amounting basically nothing offensively. Canelo is still winning but not as spectacularly as the first half of the fight.

My card: Canelo leads 110-99

Round 10

The crowd starts to become anxious as Canelo appears to be cruising now that he's up big. Canelo is still the more offensive fighter but is fighting with his hands very low and staying away from the haymakers he was throwing early in the fight. Chavez Jr. doesn't look like he even wants to be in the ring at this point. The official announced attendance at T-Mobile Arena is 20,510.

My card: Canelo leads 100-90

Round Nine

Once again Chavez Jr. starts the round by backing Canelo into the ropes, but fails to take advantage. Canelo appears content with it as he rests, then explodes with a big combination to back Chavez Jr. up. The shut-out is still alive for Canelo.

My card: Canelo leads 90-81

Round Eight

Chavez Jr. held Canelo against the ropes for almost the first minute of the round, but Canelo finished the round strong. It wasn't the domination we've seen in the first seven rounds but Canelo was still the better man in this one.

My card: Canelo leads 80-72

Round Seven

Chavez Jr. finds a second-wind and lands a big combination that backs Canelo against the ropes. He tees off on Canelo's ribs, but the 26-year-old quickly counters with a good combination of his own. Chavez Jr.'s right eye is really starting to show damage now, nearly swollen shut. That may have been Chavez's best round of the fight but Canelo is just too good. He's up seven rounds to none and barring a stoppage he will win this fight.

My card: Canelo leads 70-63

Round Six

Canelo is falling in love with a left-hook, right uppercut combination that is landing nearly every time. About mid-way through the round Canelo appeared to lean himself against the ropes and play defense while he caught his breath, but Chavez Jr. wasn't able to fully take advantage. He did land a few shots and it was one of his best moments of the fight but Canelo still took the round.

My card: Canelo leads 60-54

Round Five

Canelo continues to work Chavez Jr.'s body with big hooks and the 31-year-old appears to be slowing down considerably from them. Canelo then hits Chavez Jr. with a huge straight right that sends his hair (and sweat) flying back. Chavez Jr. has yet to land a major blow to Canelo to this point. This fight is extremely one-sided but Chavez Jr. is surviving on chin and heart alone.

My card: Canelo leads 50-45

Round Four

It's obvious Canelo is gaining confidence and is starting to loosen up. He's constantly moving forward and hitting Chavez Jr. with big shots. Suddenly, Chavez Jr. lands a stiff left that backs Canelo up and the crowd goes wild. Canelo goes right back onto the front foot and catches Chavez with a massive right hook. Despite the chants from the crowd, Canelo wins another round.

My card: Canelo leads 40-36

Round Three

Canelo has transitioned from looping, power punches to short, straight punches and it's working. Chavez Jr. is bleeding from his nose and Canelo is dictating the fight.

My card: Canelo leads 30-27

Round Two

Chavez Jr. comes out of the corner much more active than the first round, and Alvarez makes him pay with a couple big shots to the body. Canelo is starting to land stiff jab with regularity after finding mostly glove with it in the first round. Chavez Jr. mounts some offense as he backs Canelo against the ropes and works the body and the crowd loves it. Chavez Jr.'s left eye has already started to swell and that's another round for Canelo.

My card: Canelo leads 20-18

Round One

Canelo comes out the aggressor, chasing Chavez Jr. around the ring. Canelo throwing hard lefts and Chavez Jr. blocks them for the most part, but they still send him back. Chants of "Chavez" reign down but Canelo is unwavered and continues to pressure. No major shots landed for either guy but Alvarez clearly takes the round.

My card: Canelo leads 10-9

Walk-outs

The crowd nearly ripped the roof off of T-Mobile arena as Chavez Jr. first stepped through the ropes in a white robe with his "JC" emblem on the back and a red bandana tied tightly around his forehead. Alvarez followed right behind him, and was welcomed by a tidal wave of boos so deafening his walk-out music was nearly inaudible. Alvarez entered the ring with one Mexican flag waving him on and another draped over his shoulders. Not a single one of the 20,000-plus in the arena is sitting for Michael Buffer's fighter introductions.

Pre-fight

T-Mobile Arena is the site for tonight’s Cinco de Mayo weekend brawl between two of Mexico’s biggest boxing stars.

After months of anticipation, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. will finally step into the ring to settle their grudge match tonight at T-Mobile Arena.

Neither have pulled any punches during the pre-fight banter, and the same is expected tonight when they lace the gloves up. That is almost always the case when two Mexican fighters face off in the ring, from Julio Cesar Chavez Senior knocking out Mario “Azabache” Martinez in 1975 to Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera’s brutal trilogy of fights in the 2000’s.

“Both fighters are going to be in the best shape of their life,” said Oscar De La Hoya, whose Golden Boy Promotions is putting the fight on. “But for some strange reason, there's something extra that comes out in you. It's going to be all because of that pride, because of what's at stake.”

There will be no titles or belts on the line tonight in the 164.5-pound catch-weight bout. Just the adoration of the 20,000-plus fans packed inside T-Mobile Arena.

Alvarez (50-1-1, 34 KOs) enters the fight on a six-fight win streak, with four of those coming by way of knockout, since suffering the only loss of his career to Floyd Mayweather in 2013.

The 26-year-old had a solid 2016, taking out Amir Khan and Liam Smith in spectacular fashion, but is fighting tonight at the highest weight class of his career – 9.5 pounds higher than he’s ever weighed in before. At the weigh ins on Friday he appeared to be in great shape and looks ready for the test.

Chavez Jr. (50-2-1, 32 KOs) has lost two of his last six fights, but will enjoy a four-inch height advantage and three-inch reach advantage in this fight.

The 31-year-old beat Dominik Britsch by unanimous decision on Dec. 10, 2016.

The HBO pay-per-view started at 6 p.m. with three fights preceding Alvarez and Chavez Jr.’s bout.

Granger’s Pick:

Canelo is faster, more skilled and flat out better than Chavez Jr. He will land heavy shots early and often, but Chavez Jr. has the size and the chin to take them. I do think Chavez Jr. will push Canelo some because of what this fight means to him, but the better boxing will win out. Canelo could go into cruise-control if he gets up too many rounds early, taking out the chance of a late-round finish, and for that reason I will take Alvarez with a relatively easy unanimous decision victory.

Check back to the Sun later for more coverage of Canelo vs. Chavez Jr., and follow along all night for a round-by-round blog of the main event.