Saúl Canelo Álvarez convincingly retained his undisputed super middle championship for the third time by defeating Jermell Charlo by unanimous decision.

Canelo was looking for the knockout the entire fight, against an elusive fighter with good technique. In the fourth round, Jermell began to throw more combinations,  but Canelo showed great power as well as fleet footwork.

In round seven, the body blows lowered Jermell’s defences and boom, Saúl took advantage of to punish him with strong combinations. Canelo drove him to the ropes and with a blasting overhand right to the face dropped Jermell to one knee.

It seemed that the body blows were beginning to take their toll on Charlo, as he was slower and slower and clinched several times.

As the fight wore on, Charlo avoided exchanges, seeking counterpunching, invariably  boxing on the retreat.