In pictures: Mayweather outclasses Alvarez

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Floyd Mayweather
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Floyd Mayweather, who remains unbeaten, celebrates at the MGM Grand after outclassing Saul Alvarez to seize his WBC and WBA light-middleweight titles

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On the undercard of the biggest fight of the year, Britain's Ashley Theophane is beaten by Pablo Cesar Cano, the Mexican securing a split-decision victory

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In a much-anticipated match-up, WBC and WBA light-welterweight champion Danny Garcia faces big-hitting Argentine Lucas Matthysse, who is the favourite

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But heavy swelling develops around Matthysse's right eye and gradually Garcia begins to dominate, eventually retaining his belts via a unanimous decision

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The 23-year-old Alvarez comes into the contest unbeaten in 43 professional fights and has heavy backing from his compatriots on Mexican independence day

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Mayweather enters the ring flanked by pop star Justin Bieber and rapper Lil Wayne and is booed by sections of the crowd in his adopted home town

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Mayweather dominates from the off, staying clear of Alvarez's often clumsy attempts to land and peppering his rival with incisive shots on the counter

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By the middle rounds Alvarez is looking forlorn and Mayweather begins to land with some more telling shots as the champion's defences become more porous

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With the wily Mayweather happy to take a breather, Alvarez probably does enough to steal a couple of late rounds on work-rate alone

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There is a sense of anti-climax at the final bell but boxing purists would have been purring at yet another Mayweather masterclass

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Remarkably, judge CJ Ross scores the contest a draw but the other two give it to Mayweather by healthy margins as the American retains his iron grip on the sport