Throughout his historic Saturday night, Canelo Alvarez never balked at pursuing Caleb Plant.
He shrugged off jabs, kept charging through Plant’s quick-handed blows and maintained an intent to launch a continued power-punching display on his far-lesser-experienced foe.
Finally, by the 11th round, Alvarez’s steady infliction of damage achieved its goal as he hit a weary Plant with a two-punch combination that knocked down the Nashville fighter.
With his unprecedented pursuit at hand, Alvarez (57-1-2, 39 KOs) completed his execution with a final three-punch combination, closed by consecutive head shots, that knocked out Plant (21-1).
The victory makes Alvarez the first undisputed super-middleweight champion of the four-belt era, a feat he celebrated by donning a king’s crown and standing on the ropes of his corner with both arms aloft.
A sellout MGM Grand Garden Arena crowd of 16,586 roared its approval.
USA TODAY Sports’ round-by-round analysis of the fight:
Round 1
Escorted to the ring by a rocking Mana song amid the waving of Mexican flags, Alvarez saluted his overwhelming fan base by bowing to each corner. The odds favoring Alvarez shrunk late toward Plant, with Alvarez going off at -750 and facing the 21st champion of his career.
Plant sends jabs that Canelo blocks with his gloves. Alvarez stuck a left hand to the face and landed a right, followed by another. Canelo lands a left and harder right to the body in the feel-out round.
10-9 Alvarez
Round 2
Plant…
