Sunday 18 September 2016 16:32, UK
Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez ended Liam Smith's reign as world champion and then claimed Gennady Golovkin has already swerved facing him.
The 26-year-old Mexican (48-1-1-KO34) turned in one of the best performances of his career in front of a huge crowd in Arlington, Texas - felling Smith three times on his way to a ninth-round stoppage and the WBO super-welterweight title.
Alvarez received criticism for vacating his WBC middleweight crown in favour of returning to 154lbs but is adamant that the move was not a result of a desire to avoid the imperious Golovkin (36-0-KO33), who he says has already rejected one contract offer - a claim which was met with a withering response from the Kazakh on social media.
After downing Smith, 'Canelo' told HBO: "I fear nobody. I was born for this and even though many people may not like it, I'm the best fighter right now.
About a month ago, we offered him [Golovkin] twice or three times as much to make the fight. He didn't want to accept.
"About a month ago, we offered him [Golovkin] twice or three times as much to make the fight. I didn't want to say anything because I respect my rivals. He didn't want to accept.
"We're a team. I'm not going to blame my promoter or anyone else. I fear nobody. I'm 26 years old, I've fought the best in history and as I've already said, I'm the best at this moment in time."
However, Golovkin took to his Instagram account after the fight to dismiss those claims, saying: "I didn't expect that Smith punched so hard and that Canelo would talk that nonsense after the fight."
An early injury to his right hand did not deter Alvarez in claiming victory over Smith in a dominant display in Texas.
"I want to thank everybody that's here. I told you I was going to give you a big fight and bring you the championship and here it is," Alvarez added.
"I started controlling him [Smith] but in the second round I hurt my right hand so I had to use my left more often. I could only use my right hand sparingly.
"I felt he was very strong in the beginning so I felt I had to put that body work in and eventually he would dwindle. I did my job. Great fights come when matches fit well. I'm a counter-puncher so I enjoyed this fight very much."
A despondent Smith (23-1-1-KO13), who suffered the first defeat of his career, said: "He was too cute for me to be honest. No excuses but from my point of view, my timing was so off. I haven't done much sparring but he was too cute for me. I couldn't land anything clean and he was too good for me on the night.
"I was slow and had no timing to make him think twice. I thought I'd take over late but he was cute. I never landed to the body like I wanted to. He caught the body shots well and landed his own."
