I think that fighting at home carried him through, if he was fighting anywhere else he would have been finished off in the 8th. He looked ponderous, slow and signs are his power is diminishing. He doesn't like it to the body and now after Alvarez he's worried about getting KTFO. Still good enough for most of the rest of the division but a good 2-3 levels below his prime.
Kovalev looked as good as a shot 36 year old boxer can look. He used his superior experience to defeat a green but dangerous younger boxer. Had it been any of the other top 3, Kovalev would have been knocked out. He needs to take the Canelo fight and retire, win or lose.
"He needs to take the Canelo fight and retire, win or lose." Spot on. He should take the big payday and end his career. He has a chance against Canelo because of the size differential but regardless he should cash out and retire.