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.
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.
(Justin Bieber and Lil Wayne gather inside the ring before the 152-pound title fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Canelo Alvarez - Isaac Brekken/AP/Press Association Images)
Alvarez was first to step into the ring, followed by Mayweather, who walked slowly into the sold-out arena flanked by rap artist Lil Wayne and Canadian teen heartthrob Justin Bieber.
The Mexican fighter entered the fight at 165, 13 pounds heavier than he was at Friday’s weigh in.
Alvarez, who turned pro at age of 15 in 2005, suffered the first loss of his career.
“Obviously I didn’t want to leave with a loss,” said Alvarez, who dropped to 42-1-1. “It happens and it hurts.”
Alvarez said he thought Mayweather fought an Olympic style fight by impressing the judges with the volume of punches he landed not the quality.
“He is very fast and accurate. His punches weren’t that strong but he is making points and very fast,” Alvarez said.
Mayweather connected on three times as many jabs (139-44) as Alvarez and landed almost double the number of total punches, 232-117.
This was the second in Mayweather’s six-bout, 30-month contract with Showtime that could pay him more than $200 million.
Saturday’s fight marked the first time since 2007 that he has fought twice in a calendar year and Mayweather said he plans to repeat that schedule in 2014 by fighting in May and September.
Some questioned why Mayweather would choose to fight Alvarez instead of accepting even more money to fight Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao, who Mayweather has been accused of dodging.
Mayweather said that Pacquiao is no longer on his radar.
“I want to take my promotion to another level. I am not thinking about Manny Pacquiao,” Mayweather said.
On the undercard, Danny Garcia kept his World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association super lightweight titles with a unanimous decision over challenger Lucas Matthysses.
Garcia knocked Matthysses down in the 11th round and then the two went toe-to-toe in the final seconds of the 12-round showdown with both looking to end the bout with a knockout.
“We had a game plan and we stuck to it,” Garcia said. “I stood focused and disciplined.
“I faced adversity before and he hadn’t. I knew I would get this win.”
Garcia improved to 27-0 but Argentina’s Matthysses made him work for it as he sent Garcia’s mouthpiece flying with a hard right hand in the 11th.
Carlos Molina also won the International Boxing Federation’s junior middleweight title with a split-decision victory over Ishe Smith.
YouTube credit: Josue Garcia
Hate is attitude but no denying the man can really box
The offical stats say that Canelo threw 600 punches & missed with 500 of them. Don’t know if Mayweather is the best of all time but he is without doubt the best defensive fighter ever to grace the sport!!
Maybe not the greatest of all time but definitely the most technically gifted. The greatest boxers entertained aswell, took part in the most memorable fights. I cant split Ali and Leonard.
With all those punches thrown you’d think that one of them might have connected with Bieber.
If there were scores for dead arms last night Alvarez would have been the clear winner!
WTF was Bieber doing there?
His only loss is his street cred, with having justin bieber as part of his entourage…jeez!
Why do people wear sunglasses indoor at night.
Maybe cos his eyes are poppin out of his head after a few lines!
Who even has a chance of beating him?
He has 4 fights left he easily beats garcia or mathysse unless they land a bomb or two and he would destroy khan but khans speed would be interesting.
Manny would have the speed and is good at closing distance but would get countered so i can see him going out undefeated and when he retires it will be a huge blow for boxing.
Agreed great boxer but so boring to watch , never goes for the kill or brawls with an opponent just couple of punches and moves the lad just couldn’t get near him last night as Mayweather says himself he turns boxing Into a chess match effective but dull
Yeah it would be great to see him tear it up for once but he’s too smart for that. There aren’t many boxers who will retire without some form of brain damage but he’s about as close as it will get; its hard to fault him for it. Class act last night though and a fair weight and size difference too.
Frank… Maybe it sounds like you should watch bare knuckle fighting, that was BOXING last night at its finest Floyd Mayweather is an absolute genius & put on an amazing display
Greatest of all time 45-0
I think all boxing fans like a dust up but ya can’t criticize Floyd for winning with out getting into one. Like said previously he’s too clever for that. Think the best ever is stretching it a little bit, he beats pacquiao everyday for me but to be the best of all time u gotta fight all comers and he did nothing to make the manny fight happen 2-3 years ago.
The last time pacquiao was in a ring he was face down & motionless for 2 full minutes!! He’s also lost his last 2 fights & robbed Marquez in their 3rd fight
Pacquiao was just a myth & never wanted any part of Mayweather
Oh be quiet Gambling, rambling more like!
Maybe ur right but my point was Floyd did nothing but put obstacles in the way. I don’t think u believe urself that Floyd is the greatest of all time. Which all time greats has he beatin? Don’t say de la Hoya because he was destroyed by a ‘myth’! Don’t get me wrong, Floyd is the greatest fighter Of my generation. I remember ray Leonard as a kid and from tapes and what I’ve read most would have him ahead of Floyd but to say Floyd is the greatest of all time……..on your own there chief
I’m in my mid 20s I don’t care about boxing in the 60s…. Mayweather is the best I’ve ever seen he’s dominated everyone & has a style that can’t be beaten
45-0 & 23 world title fights, I rest my case
Gambling how can you call him the Greatest of all time when you disregard any and all boxing that occurred before your existence? Should you be calling him “Greatest of the miniscule amount of boxing I have seen in my lifetime”
Whatever Mr Burns… 45-0, The Money Team, Undefeated & Undisputed, if Mayweather was Irish he would be a Dub
What a Hero!!
The greatest of all time wouldn’t ask for catchweights.