But the boxing legend made sure that's all the gutsy challenger won.

Alvarez proved he was levels above the younger challenger by producing a knockdown in the third round en route to a unanimous decision victory at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and live on DAZN, on Saturday night. Judges scored it 118-109, 118-109 and 117-110 all in favor of Alvarez who defended his unified super middleweight world titles during Mexican Independence Day weekend.

As the bad blood from the buildup seeped into the fight, Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) put Berlanga on notice of his superiority early by unleashing a lightning-quick left across the jaw to drop Berlanga with a flash knockdown in the third round.

Although Berlanga recovered admirably and was a game fighter throughout in a solid showing for himself, the 27-year-old couldn't match the ring IQ nor skills of the 34-year-old Alvarez and that showed glaringly. Canelo peppered the brash challenger with body shots, and flush punches to the face and head, all while pounding his bigger opponents arms frequently as well in a performance the superstar was proud of.

Alvarez also blasted Berlanga in the 11th round, though the challenger fought until the end of the bout with nothing to be ashamed of.

Still, Canelo, as he vowed prior to the fight, proved that the previously-undefeated fighter wouldn't show him anything that he couldn't handle.

After suffering his first professional loss, Berlanga (22-1, 17 KOs) conceded that Canelo has always been his idol and that hopefully this was the fight he needed to propel toward becoming a legend himself.

Here are the live updates, results and highlights from the Canelo-Berlanga fight and entire main card.