Canelo Alvarez's 'huge back' made Amir Khan ask, 'What am I doing here?' – Brit lost by stunning one-punch KO because Floyd Mayweather 'was being a p*

19/01/2024 14:19

Amir Khan sized up Canelo Alvarez moments before their fight and asked himself: ‘What am I doing here?’

The Brit spent most of his career competing between lightweight (135lbs) and welterweight (147lbs), but jumped up for a one-off catchweight contest at 155lbs to challenge the Mexican superstar for his WBC middleweight world title.

As he looked at his opponent’s remarkable physique across the ring, Khan realised it was going to be a tough night.

"When Oscar [De La Hoya] called me I couldn't say no,” he recalled to iNews.

“Maybe I'm too brave for my own good.

“Floyd Mayweather was being a p***y and wouldn't fight me so I said cool, let's do it.”

The fight was announced completely out of the blue and took everybody by surprise.

The size difference was a big talking point throughout the build-up.

Canelo has since gone on to win world titles at super-middleweight (168lbs) and light-heavyweight (175lbs).

Khan recalled: “I weighed in on the [fight] night at 158lbs, he was 187lbs. It was crazy.

“At the weigh-in he didn't seem that big, but when I saw him in the corner I was thinking, ‘What am I doing here?’

“He had his back to me. It was huge."

Khan had success early on in the fight, using his speed to land consistently on Canelo.

Ultimately, though, he lost by stunning KO in round six.

Khan reflected: "It was a mismatch on paper.

“To be leading in the fight was amazing really. I earned his respect.

“Yes I got knocked out, but he is one of the best Mexican fighters of all time.”