Canelo Álvarez vs. Alfonso Gómez was a professional boxing match contested on 17 September 2011, for the WBC super welterweight championship. The fight took place at Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, United States on 17 September 2011 as part of the Victor Ortiz vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. pay-per-view broadcast. The Mayweather-Ortiz fight took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada taking place on the Mexican Independence weekend.(2011-07-26) Alvarez to fight Gomez on Sept. 17. RingTV. Retrieved on 2011-07-26. Fans at Staples Center were able to see the live feed from Las Vegas and also see Canelo Alvarez fight live that night, and the people in Las Vegas could see the live feed from the Canelo fight in the Staples Center.Rafael, Dan. (2011-07-22) | Blog | Saul Alvarez to fight Alfonso Gomez. ESPN. Retrieved on 2011-07-26.
Background After a successful defense against Britain's Ryan Rhodes in his hometown of Guadalajara, Jalisco,(2011-06-19) Saul Alvarez shuts out then stops Ryan Rhodes. DogHouse Boxing. Retrieved on 2011-07-26. Alvarez had various options to who defend his world title against next.(2011-07-08) Saul Alvarez Prepares: Mayorga, Vanes & Gomez eyed.Boxingscene . Retrieved on 2011-07-26. Former Contender Alfonso Gomez had recently stopped Calvin Green in two rounds, and sent out a challenge to the young champion soon after his victory at the Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa in California. His plan was to contend at Welterweight unless he could get a shot at Canelo.Davila, David. (2011-05-22) | Boxing |Alfonso Gomez KOs Calvin Green. TheSweetScience. Retrieved on 2011-07-26.
The fight Alvarez kept his 154-pound title belt, stopping Gomez at 2:36 of the sixth round. Alvarez knocked down Gomez with a compact left hook late in the first round as more of a balance knockdown while the round was slow up to that point. Gomez rallied in the next few rounds and hung in with the hard-punching Alvarez, outworking and outlanding him by a large margin and giving him problems with his in-and-out movement, his jab, and combination punching. Gomez looked to be winning from the 2nd round to the first half of the 5th round. Alvarez seemingly was coming on in the second half of the fifth round, and he stopped Gomez near the end of the 6th, with a nasty uppercut stunning Gomez and a follow-up flurry forcing the stoppage. Gomez thought referee Wayne Hedgpeth stopped the fight too soon, with Alvarez raining blows on Gomez for about six seconds, but not many getting through his defense.Rafael, Dan. (2011-09-18) Saul Alvarez stops Alfonso Gomez. ESPN. Retrieved on 2011-09-18. The general consensus (and HBO's take) was that the stoppage was very quick as well.
Aftermath Following the showing of each of the main events on the night, fans in attendance saw two post-fight concerts performed by Los Tucanes de Tijuana and El Gran Silencio.(2011-07-26) Saul Alvarez, Alfonso Gomez ready for a Mexican War.Boxingscene. Retrieved on 2011-07-26.
Undercard Confirmed bouts:
Preliminary card Light Welterweight bout: Antonio Orozco vs. Fernando Rodriguez Orozco defeated Rodrigruez by unanimous decision. (60-54 | 60-54 | 60-54) Welterweight bout: Hugo Centeno Jr. vs. Willie Walton Centeno Jr. defeated Walton by unanimous decision. (40-35 | 39-36 | 39-36 ) Super Welterweight bout: Ray Rivera vs. Rudy Gonzalez Rivera defeated Gonzalez by knockout at 1:26 of the first round. Featherweight bout: Mikayl Arreola vs. Juan Sandoval Arreola defeated Sandoval by unanimous decision. (58-55 | 58-55 | 57-56)
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