Did Canelo score a knockdown in the 9th round?

In the 9th round, Canelo landed a solid jab that caused Lara to lose his balance and collapse near the ropes. It was ruled a slip, but after looking at the replay, clearly a jab solidly landed and caused Lara to lose his balance. When a boxer falls down following a punch it should be a knockdown, right?

 

Yes the jab did land hard on Lara right above the right eye. Lara tried to slip it, but it surprised him. Lara did manage to avoid the right hook that came right after, but in doing so his footwork was all tangled. He used so much leg strength to avoid that right hand that he "slipped". He was off balance from the jab landing and having to avoid that looping right hand that came after.

 

Look at where Lara's feet actually landed after he hopped back to avoid that right hook. (you can see it on the reverse angle) His feet landed from that hop-back move about a foot under and behind the bottom rope. That wasn't a slip, you can't stand up straight when your feet land that far under the bottom rope. He just fell forward onto his right knee because he was so off balance. The jab caused him to fall so far back like that, and it landed right on the cut that was bothering him already.

 

Hey Capitan, I'm asking it as a real question. I'm asking the boxing fans what you think. We have a competitive poll so please explain your reasoning. You could argue it was a slip since the right hook missed, but he was definitely put off balance by that jab that started the two punch left right combo. I don't think there's any doubt about that. Look at the way he hopped out of the way and his feet landed in such an awkward way. It certainly could have been ruled a knockdown. The jab did land flush and pushed Lara towards the corner, I don't think there's any doubt about that.

 

Yes there was water near the corner. But if a punch lands, and the guy gets wobbled then slips on water in the corner it's still a knockdown right? He was put off balance by the jab, he turned hard towards the corner to the avoid the right hook. Look at the angle his feet planted the ground. Whenever there is a debatable situation about whether there is a knockdown or whether it is a slip, usually the first thing said by the commentators is did a punch land. That's usually the determining factor right?

 

Lara got lucky on that one. Would have been a 10-8 round for Canelo, and even more dominant in favor of Canelo on the scorecards.

:yep