Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas - It was originally scheduled for 2012. Almost three years later we get the fight. Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (45-1-1, 32KOs) scored a vicious third round knockout of James Kirkland (32-2, 28KOs). Kirkland brought the drama to Canelo, landing hard combinations and getting Canelo to the ropes. Canelo started firing back and dropped Kirkland with a big right hand. Kirkland got up and started firing back but Canelo was unloading with both hands and had him in serious trouble in the closing moments. Photos by Ed Mulholland/HBO.

Kirkland went right back into trouble at the start of the second round, but he was able to weather the storm and started landing some very good shots on Canelo as he backed the Mexican star back to the ropes. Canelo was fighting back and seemed to be a little tired from trying to knock Kirkland out in earlier moments.

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Kirkland went back on the attack in the third, staying close to Canelo and letting his hands go. As Kirkland was walking in, he got dropped by a hard uppercut. Kirkland made it up and he was caught by a massive right hand that spun Kirkland around and sent him down and out.

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