Boxing fans, this weekend we have one of the biggest rematches of the last decade of boxing. Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez are facing off for the third time. Two all time greats, and this fight has barely been publicized.
Rant incoming, this is a prime example of why boxing is losing ground as the premier combat sport. This fight should have been the talk of the town for months. Regardless of the result of Canelo Alvarez last bout, the first two matches between these two are some of the most controversial in modern boxing history.
The first fight officially ended as a draw (the only draw on each fighters record), and the second fight ended in a Majority Decision win (115-113 x2 and 114-114) for Alvarez. Secondly, these two have lost a combined 3 fights in a combined 99 professional fights. Golovkin’s sole loss came against Alvarez. He’s on the tail end of his career (40 years old) and looking to add a stamp to this feud, where many would argue he won both fights.
On the other hand Canelo is looking to prove he’s still the pound for pound number one, getting right back on track after finally meeting an opponent who was able to physically overpower him in Dmitry Bivol.
This is one of the biggest bouts of the year. Two top 10 pound for pound guys going at it. And yet the fight sport community was focused on UFC 279 and the controversy surrounding that event. Regardless, this fight should be bigger.
How does this fight go? I think there’s a lot going on for each guy. Neither of the first two bouts were decisive. I am personally in the camp that Golovkin won the first fight. At this time, the summer of 2017, Canelo was becoming the biggest star in boxing. In the modern era every loss is magnified and inflated in terms of a fighter’s legacy. Which is ironic because many all time greats of past eras have 5-10 losses over their careers, fighting the best at their best.
Compubox stats of GGG/Canelo 1 provided by BoxingScene.com
In any case Canelo already had one “excusable loss” against Floyd Mayweather. Another against Golovkin at that time would have really derailed the hype train, and I think the draw was used to shield him. However, the second fight was much closer, and it could have gone either way.
This fight is a toss up. Canelo Alvarez is clearly at his peak, and since their last fight he has been more active and faced more dangerous competition. When he first fought Golovkin he was mostly at light middleweight or just making the middleweight limits. Since then hes gone up to super middleweight and light heavyweight and was 7-0 before the Bivol fight.
I think he’s going to be a lot more comfortable at middleweight. His power has moved up with him, and hes shown a lot of aggression in his fights as he’s moved up in weight despite being a counter puncher.
I think his comfort gives GGG some new problems, Canelo might be able to play the bully. Another factor is GGG hasn’t fought anyone near Canelos caliber since that last fight. He is also getting older, and although I doubt it will be, maybe the chin isn’t what it once was? Both of these guys were blessed with a chin of iron. GGG was also able to fend off Canelos aggressive style with a jab, but obviously that resulted in a loss. Does he come out more aggressive and look for a finish? Or play it safe?
Personally, I trust Canelo to take the trilogy. He is going to be looking to avenge that loss. He’s fought guys bigger than Golovkin and withstood their power. He may not look as slick as he once was, but he’s one of the most dangerous boxers in the world.
Alvarez by Unanimous Decision (116-112).