Khan's boxing journey started with great promise. The two-time world champion kicked off his pro career with 18 straight wins. His stellar hand speed and good power made him a formidable opponent, though he had some defensive vulnerabilities.
Khan's first taste of defeat came in a shocking first-round knockout against Breidis Prescott. But the Bolton fighter bounced back, securing notable wins over Zab Judah and Marcos Maidana. Despite these successes, Khan ended his career with five stoppage losses.
When asked about the hardest hitter he faced, Khan didn't hesitate to name Canelo Alvarez. Their 2016 bout ended in the sixth round with a knockout victory for Canelo. Khan recalled the experience:
"When [Canelo] hit me, I didn't really feel the punch, I was knocked out before I hit the floor. I do remember everything."
Khan compared this to other tough fights in his career. He mentioned his bout with Marcos Maidana, which he won but found grueling:
"There was one fight I don't remember anything against Maidana. I'd rather be knocked out with one shot than take millions of shots like that because that definitely can affect you."
As for his first knockout loss to Prescott, Khan said, "That didn't really feel that because I was still young."
Canelo Alvarez has gone on to become a dominant force in boxing, especially at super-middleweight where he unified all four major titles. With 66 fights under his belt, including 39 knockouts, Canelo boasts a 63% KO to win ratio. However, he's currently on a run of five points decisions.
Alvarez will face William Scull on May 3 in a bid to become a two-time undisputed champion in the division. There's also talk of a potential mega-fight with Terence Crawford, another former Khan opponent.
Despite his impressive record, Canelo has faced setbacks too. His second career loss came against Dmitry Bivol at light heavyweight, showing that even the hardest punchers can be vulnerable when moving up in weight.