By Rick Reeno

MGM Grand, Las Vegas - Mexican superstar Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (44-1-1, 31KOs) believes he got the last laugh over his Cuban rival, WBA 'regular' junior middleweight champion Erislandy Lara (19-2-2, 12KOs).

On Saturday they night they met in the ring, at a catch-weight of 155-pounds, with Canelo winning a close twelve round split decision. Lara was tabbed as the winner by one judge with a card of 115-113, while the other two scores of 117-111 and 115-113 were ruled for Canelo.

Canelo blames Lara for a lackluster fight. He says the Cuban stylist failed to take him 'to the Cuban school of boxing.'

"What can I say about the fight? We knew that it was going to be that type of fight. We kept pressuring him and pressuring him, but we didn't know that it was going to be that long of a marathon," Canelo said. "There’s a saying that to make love you need a partner. Same thing in boxing. You need a partner to make a great fight."

"I wanted to give you guys this fight because you guys said I wouldn't take it - and I did. He talked so much and said he was going to take me to school. Well, guess what? I don't think anybody wants to go to THAT school."