Canelo didn’t look like a fighter who was interested in going all 12 rounds with his opponent from the start. He was on edge from the first round.

The first real highlight came in the third set, when the champion’s constant pressure with his footwork opened the opportunity for a lightning-fast left hand to come home. Berlanga got a good impression of Álvarez’s power.

He beat the count, but the damage was done.

One of the most dramatic moments of the match actually came in the fifth round, when tempers flared. Álvarez took offense to a low blow from his opponent and ended up throwing a punch as the referee tried to separate the two.

Each turn proved that Canelo was the technically superior fighter, consistently out-fighting his opponent or having answers to everything his opponent threw at him.

In the eighth round, drama arose again when Álvarez was knocked out and delivered a heavy blow shortly after a headbutt from his opponent.

It wasn’t all bad for the challenger. Several noted that he was willing to step into the ring and take action. It didn’t allow him to make much progress in the match, but it spoke volumes about his toughness.

The bout continued a trend of one-sided performances for Canelo, who still looks like a top fighter in his mid-30s. Álvarez stuck to his two-year fight schedule, which included his unanimous decision victory over Jaime Munguia in May.

In reality, it also continues a trend of Alvarez punching below his weight in terms of competition, and he was a huge favorite going into this match for a reason. It was Berlanga’s first professional defeat, but this was also a huge step up in competition.

While Alvarez has fought some of the biggest names of his generation, Berlanga had never faced anyone as skilled and experienced as the champion.