On November 2, 2019, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (174½ lbs) etched his name in boxing history. With an eleventh-round knockout at 2:15, he not only captured the WBO light heavyweight title from Sergey Kovalev (175 lbs) but also became the 25th boxer to win world titles in four weight divisions, a feat that will be remembered for generations.
The fight, televised on DAZN, was a masterclass in unpredictability. The smaller Alvarez (52-1-2) took on the role of the aggressor, constantly pursuing, while Kovalev (34-3-1) tactically boxed behind his jab. This strategy proved effective through ten rounds, with two judges scoring 96-94 for Alvarez and one even at 95-95 before the stoppage, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.
The finish came when Alvarez's persistent left hook finally connected to Kovalev's temple, followed by a decisive right hand that ended the contest. This marked only the third stoppage loss in Kovalev's career and placed Alvarez in elite company alongside Thomas Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Mike McCallum as former light middleweight champions who captured light heavyweight titles.
Post-fight, the drama continued to unfold. Controversy emerged when Kovalev suggested via Instagram that contractual obligations and physical conditioning issues made victory impossible, though he accepted the bout for financial reasons. Alvarez dismissed these claims as poor sportsmanship, adding a layer of drama to the aftermath of the match.
The event, co-promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Main Events with Russell Mora as referee, drew 12,646 spectators. It marked Alvarez's light heavyweight debut just two months after Kovalev's previous title defence, adding another layer to the victory's historical significance.
