Canelo Alvarez stops Amir Khan in sixth round

LAS VEGAS – Canelo Alvarez got on his knees to check on Amir Khan after knocking him unconscious with a big right hand in the sixth round of their title fight.

Then he went over to check on some future business with fellow middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, who was watching ringside.

“I invited him to come into the ring,” Alvarez said. “Right now I will put the gloves on again.”

It’s a fight both Golovkin and boxing fans have been waiting for to happen, though the weight could be an issue. Alvarez wants the bout to be less than the 160-pound middleweight limit, while Golovkin, who holds his own piece of the middleweight crown, vows to fight at his best weight.

“I am old school,” Golovkin said just before the fight. “Middleweight is 160. I respect the sport of boxing.”

Against Khan, Alvarez needed only one big right hand to turn a close fight into a smashing knockout.

Struggling with Khan’s speed, Alvarez unleashed a long right hand that sent Khan backward on the canvas, where referee Kenny Bayless didn’t even bother to count him out at 2:37 of the sixth round.

Alvarez retained his piece of the middleweight title, but it was not without some nervous moments for his fans who packed the new T-Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas Strip. Khan was more than holding his own in a tactical fight when the right hand suddenly ended it.

“People have known me only for my power,” Alvarez said. “I have many more qualities in the ring and I showed that. I think people saw more of me.”

Khan, a 6-1 underdog, had vowed to use his speed to confound Alvarez and his plan seemed to be working. He fought in spurts, landing combinations and seemingly frustrating Alvarez with his movement.

But a right hand that came out of nowhere landed flush against Khan’s chin, and he was out before he hit the canvas.

“I was getting in the ring with a big guy,” Khan said. “Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to the end.”

Alvarez was making the first defense of the WBC title he won from Miguel Cotto in November, though the fight was fought at a catch weight of 155 pounds. The WBC has said it will take the tile from Alvarez if he does not begin talks for a fight with Golovkin within 15 days.

“I don’t fear anyone,” said Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 knockouts) said. “We don’t come to play in this sport.”

Khan (31-4), for one, believes it’s a fight that has to happen, and soon.

“I think it’s time that Canelo steps in the ring with Triple G,” Khan said.

“I’m a natural 147-pounder and this challenge came and it was hard to turn down,” Khan said. “My natural weight is 147 and I will probably go back down to that.”