Canelo vs. Saunders Instant Reaction

Kevin Iole recaps Canelo Alvarez's victory over Billy Joe Saunders for the Super Middleweight Title.

Video Transcript

KEVIN IWOBI: Canelo Alvarez did it again. The unified middleweight champion added one more belt to his collection on Saturday, when he beat up Billy Joe Saunders at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and scored an eighth-round knockout. Alvarez landed a big right hand, a counter right hand, in the eighth round, and landed right on Saunders' eye. It pushed Saunders back. When he went to the corner, he said he couldn't see. His trainer, Mark Tibbs, stopped the fight.

So Canelo Alvarez won the fight, at three minutes of the eighth round. Ironically, it was the round that he predicted he would win by knockout in. He is now the WBA, WBC, and WBO Super Middleweight Champion. And what his goal is now, is to become the first Mexican-born fighter to hold all four of the major belts. The only obstacle left is IBF Champion Caleb Plant. Alvarez called him out after the fight, said he hoped to fight him his next time out, likely in September. Promoter Eddie Hearn said he would go ahead and make that fight.

Saunders had his moments in the fight. I had it 78-74. I gave Alvarez rounds 1, 2, 3, and 4. I gave Saunders rounds 5 and 6. And then I had 7 and 8 going to Alvarez. Two of the judges had it 78-74 for Alvarez. The third judge had it 77-75 for Alvarez. It was a tremendous performance by Alvarez. He used power in this fight. Saunders boxed him in. When he was throwing that double jab in those middle rounds, he was giving Alvarez a little bit of a problem.

But Alvarez won this fight with his power. He was landing on the harder shots, both to the body and the head. They eventually took their toll on Saunders and forced his corner to stop the fight. He was being taken to a local hospital in the Dallas area for examination. They fear he might have broken his orbital bone. Canelo Alvarez, another big win for him. He is now a three-belt champion in the Super Middleweight Division. Look for him to announce soon a fight with Caleb Plant for the undisputed middleweight championship. For Yahoo Sports, I am Kevin Iwobi.