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9th May 2021
05:40am BST

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MAY 08: Canelo Alvarez gets the crowd going against Billy Joe Saunders during their fight for Alvarez's WBC and WBA super middleweight titles and Saunders' WBO super middleweight title at AT&T Stadium on May 08, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)[/caption]
However, land it he did in the 8th as BJS went to roll Canelo's left hook, but instead laid his chin on a plate for an absolutely destructive right-hand uppercut from the red-haired power puncher, and his right eye instantly blackened.
Canelo knew he had hurt the Hatfield hitter as he started celebrating to the crowd in the middle of the round like a matador goading the bull with a red cape. He was right to celebrate because even though BJS survived the round, he was retired on his stool by his cornerman and didn't come back out for the 9th.
Afterwards Canelo admitted "I think I broke his face" as BJS didn't even stay in the ring for a post-fight interview and was instead sent straight to an ambulance to get his eye checked for what is believed to be a broken orbital cheekbone.
The is the first defeat for the silky southpaw, while Canelo now just needs one more belt to complete the super-middleweight collection and unify the whole division.
Caleb Plant holds the missing trinket in the form of the IBF world title and Canelo stated boldly and with all the same venom as the bad guy in an action movie: "I want him next."Explore more on these topics:

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