The 29 year-old moved up eight pounds in a bid to claim the world middleweight title but fell well short of making a dent in Canelo’s amazing 47-1-1 record at the newly-built T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Khan was laid out unconscious from a wicked right hand by Canelo in the sixth round of an interesting contest and afterwards urged the Mexican to do what he did and step up in weight to tackle the best around.
“I want to thank everyone for coming,” said Khan. “I think it’s time for Canelo to step up to GGG, just like I stepped up to fight him. I tried as much as I could and trained very hard for this fight.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t get the result I wanted. Although I feel strong at this weight, I am naturally a lighter fighter and plan to go back down to welterweight. But, I like to challenge myself and that is why I took this fight. I want to be the best, and to be the best I have to fight the best.”
Trainer Virgil Hunter also waded in on the Canelo v Golovkin debate by passionately stating: “We took the risk with no concessions. Amir has set the tone. He took the risk and did it.”
Khan faces yet another massive rebuilding job on the back of a third big career knockout loss and may now look to a return to welterweight to battle UK rival Kell Brook.
Talk of the fight possibly going ahead this summer seems premature though and Khan may need a few months off before at least a couple of tune-ups before sharing the ring with the IBF welterweight title holder.
Any encounter would be more likely to take place in the summer of 2017 as Khan contemplates his next move and maybe even coming back at all.
