Floyd Mayweather beats Canelo Alvarez by majority decision

Floyd Mayweather Jr. throws a left at Canelo Alvarez during their WBC 154-pound title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 14, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada

Floyd Mayweather defeated Mexican Canelo Alvarez with a majority decision 2-1. Two judges favoured Mayweather with scores of 117-111 and 116-112 respectively, while the third judge was a bit generous to Alvarez who registered final score of 114-114.

Thus Mayweather, who dominated from the opening round, won by a majority decision in what was a masterful performance that lay his claim on being the best fighter of his era.

Mayweather was sharp, efficient and brutal at times in dismantling Alvarez, who was an unbeaten fighter and favourite before the match. He frustrated Alvarez early, struck him with big right hands in the middle rounds.

“I just listened to my corner, listened to my dad,” Mayweather said, after the match reports The Guardian. “My dad had a brilliant game plan, and I went out there and got the job done.”

Mayweather remained unbeaten in 45 fights and added another piece of the junior middleweight title to his collection in a fight that was fought at a 152-pound limit.

Mayweather’s speed made all the difference as he was able to land straight rights and left punches, then get out of the way before Alvarez was able to respond and kept Alvarez guessing about his next move.

“He’s very talented, very elusive,” Alvarez conceded.

“I didn’t know how to get him, it’s extremely simple,” Alvarez said. “He’s a great fighter, very intelligent. The frustration was getting in there, but he’s a great fighter. We tried to catch him.”

When the match was over, Mayweather didn’t even celebrate, instead walked into a corner. The only surprise came when it was announced the decision wasn’t unanimous.

The sellout crowd, who consist mostly of Mexicans, at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, tried its best to urge Alvarez on, but the cheers of “Canelo! Canelo!” faded in the late couple of rounds. Such was Mayweather’s dominance that the only question was whether the ringside judges would allow him to pitch a shutout.