Get ready for part two of Gennady Golovkin vs. Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez
After a judging controversy, the World Boxing Council orders a rematch
The World Boxing Council (WBC) has demanded another clash between Gennady Golovkin and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Part two of the duel could take place on the Cinco de Mayo (May 5) Mexican holiday next year.
Last month’s middleweight bout between the two boxers, billed as ‘Supremacy’, ended in controversy after the judges ruled it a draw.
Golovkin dominated his title defence but only one judge, Dave Moretti, agreed that the Kazakhstani had won, scoring the card 115-113. Don Trella scored the fight a “dubious” 114-114 draw, but Adalaide Byrd’s 118-110 card was in favour of Mexican Alvarez. The Times said Byrd’s card “defied all logic”.
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Golovkin still holds the WBC, WBA and IBF belts. Boxing Scene reports that the WBC board of governers has announced that it’s ordered an immediate rematch. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman told Sky Sports: “It’s the fight that the world wants to see.”
Tom Loeffler, Golovkin’s promoter, says the Kazakhstani will be even more determined to win the rematch after the judging scandal.
“I think you’ll see Gennady knowing that he has to win more than eight rounds to get the decision. He’ll be even more persistent in the re-match,” said Loeffler.
“It doesn’t get any better than the fight with Canelo. It really became an international sporting event, instead of a world boxing championship match.
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“Gennady still has all his titles. He’s still the world champion. And this is a fight that the fans want again, so we can have a more definitive ending to the next one.
“We’ll do whatever we can on our side to make it happen. With their styles, their punching power, their speed, with both in the primes of their career, it can only get better.”
Judge to take break after Golovkin is robbed of Canelo victory
18 September
The middleweight title showdown between Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez lived up to its billing, but the drawn fight will always be remembered for the controversial scorecard from judge Adalaide Byrd.
Golovkin dominated his title defence with one judge, Dave Moretti, agreeing that the Kazakhstani had won - scoring the card 115-113. Don Trella scored the fight a “dubious” 114-114 draw, but Byrd’s 118-110 card in favour of Alvarez “defied all logic” says The Times.
The controversial decision meant that Golovkin had to settle for a draw in Las Vegas and he has demanded a rematch after calling the result “terrible” for boxing.
“This is terrible for sport, for boxing,” said Golovkin. “I’m a champion, it’s the biggest fight for boxing. This is terrible. It’s unbelievable. Of course I want a rematch. Look, I still have all the belts, I’m still the champion.”
Tom Loeffler, Golovkin’s promoter, added: “There were a few close rounds but I can’t make a case for 118-110. I scored it pretty wide for GGG.”
In retaining his WBC, WBA and IBF titles, the fight statistics revealed that Golovkin landed 49 more punches than Alvarez. Following the decision to call the fight a draw, the crowd at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas showed their displeasure with many booing the verdict.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times reports that Byrd will take a break from judging big fights after the Las Vegas controversy.
Nevada Athletic Commission executive director Bob Bennett said: “Like in any profession, you have a bad night.
“Unfortunately, she didn’t do well. I can tell you she conducts training for us, takes judges under her wing… but her score was too wide.
“I’m not going to put her right back in. She’ll still be in the business… but she needs to catch her breath.”
With the judging taking the shine off what was a huge night for boxing, Loeffler had the final word. “Scoring it that way for Canelo takes away from the greatness of the performance in the ring,” said Loeffler. “Frankly, it is not good for the sport of boxing.”
Alvarez can beat Golovkin, says Amir Khan
15 September
Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez has the power to beat Gennady Golovkin in this weekend’s mega-fight in Las Vegas, says British boxer Amir Khan.
Unbeaten in 37 fights, Golovkin is the bookies’ favourite and will put his WBA, WBC, IBF and The Ring belts on the line in the middleweight bout, which has been billed as “Supremacy” by boxing promoters.
But despite Golovkin’s record, Mexican fighter Alvarez has lost only once in his 51-fight career and Khan says his power should not be underestimated.
Khan, who was knocked out by Alvarez last year, told the London Evening Standard: “As hard as they both hit I think Canelo will win on points.
“He is an excellent counter-puncher and likes fighters coming to him, which Golovkin does.
“Golovkin tends to walk down fighters. He is physically stronger but he won’t have it all his own way because Canelo is just as imposing and won’t be bullied.
“This will be a very special fight. These are the two best middleweights in the world taking on each other.
“People think Golovkin is the puncher going into this fight but Canelo’s power should not be underestimated.”
Taking place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, promoter Oscar De La Hoya believes that this fight can rival the 1985 classic between Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns.
“This event needs no hype whatsoever,” said De La Hoya. “This is for supremacy, to see who the best fighter on the planet is.
“It’s really hard to remember when we’ve witnessed this type of match-up. You have to go back to the Hagler days, to Hearns - and we’re still talking about that fight, that’s exactly what this event is all about.”
Canelo vs. GGG: predictions, betting odds and how to watch
13 September
It’s the fight that everyone wants to see - not Mayweather vs McGregor, but the potentially explosive middleweight battle between Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin.
Just weeks after hosting Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor, Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena is again the place to be on fight night when Alvarez and Golovkin go head-to-head this weekend.
We look at the tale of the tape between the two middleweight stars.
Alvarez and Golovkin head to head
Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez
- Nationality: Mexican
- Age: 27
- Height: 5ft 9in
- Reach: 71in
- Fights: 51
- Wins: 49
- KOs: 34
- Draws: 1
- Losses: 1 (to Floyd Mayweather)
Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin
- Nationality: Kazakhstani
- Age: 35
- Height: 5ft 10in
- Reach: 74in
- Fights: 37
- Wins: 37
- KOs: 33
- Draws: 0
- Losses: 0
When and where is the fight?
Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena will stage the fight and the event will have even more prominence for Alvarez and his fans because it falls on Mexican Independence Day. Due to the time difference, UK fans will have to wait until the early hours of Sunday morning to watch the fight.
How to watch Canelo vs. GGG
The fight will be shown in the UK via BoxNation Box Office pay-per-view (Channel 490 on Sky). The event costs £16.95.
What’s on the line?
Golovkin’s unbeaten record – and also the pair will fight for the WBA, WBC and IBF middleweight titles.
Canelo vs GGG betting odds
Best odds according to Oddschecker.com
- 4/6: Golovkin to win
- 14/9: Alvarez to win
- 25/1: Draw
- 13/8: Golovkin by KO, TKO or disqualification
- 9/1: Alvarez by KO, TKO or disqualification
- 7/2: Golovkin by decision or technical decision
- 21/10: Alvarez by decision or technical decision
Predictions
What the fighters say
Golovkin on fighting in Las Vegas, a place Alvarez is familiar with: “It’s not special. It’s regular. I just need my ring. It doesn’t matter where - Vegas, New York or the moon. Doesn’t matter.”
Alvarez on taking Golovkin’s unbeaten record: “I’m going to go in there and win the fight. I prepared myself for the knockout. Look, anything can happen in this fight. But that’s what I’ve prepared for - to knock him out.”
Boxers predict a winner
Floyd Mayweather: “He’s [Alvarez] got to go to the body. He can stop him if he goes to the body.”
Anthony Joshua, British world heavyweight champion: “I have been riding with Canelo for a long time but it’s going to be a tough fight because Triple G is from Kazakhstan, he has the good foundations of a boxer. But so has Canelo, so I’ll put my money on him.”
Amir Khan, British boxer: “I honestly think he [Alvarez] beats Triple G. A lot of people underestimate him, I don’t know why. I’ve never been in the ring with Triple G, but I’ve been in the ring with Canelo and he’s hard to hit. He’s quite tricky and like I said he hits very hard, so you have to give him that respect. I think that he gives a lot of people problems.”
Kell Brook, British boxer: “You’re only good as your last fight and I just think his [Golovkin’s] days are numbered. He can be hit and he can be out-boxed, he can be beaten.”
Boxing pundits’ predictions
Nick Parkinson, ESPN UK: “I expect an exciting fight to swing both ways but GGG will have enough to win on points. I think Golovkin will use his boxing skills and laser beam jab well to break down Canelo in the later rounds, possibly flooring him on the way to a decision.”
Teddy Atlas, ESPN TV: “Two years ago I said Golovkin was too big and too strong. Since then Golovkin has declined and perhaps even been exposed as a one-dimensional fighter while Canelo has improved. There will still be danger in that right hand of Golovkin for the first six rounds, but if Canelo can avoid getting caught with the big shot I think he can out box an older Golovkin and win a split decision.”
Ewan Roberts, Metro: “It should be an incredible contest that could go either way, but we’re backing Golovkin to edge it. The Kazakh has so few weaknesses, and his power should prove too much in the end even for Canelo. GGG says he wants to ‘destroy’ Alvarez, and we believe him.”
Bob Smith, BoxingNews24.com: “In the end, GGG will win. He will hang in there, despite being outclassed repeatedly; he will fight more cautiously and then use his jab and also go to the body. His body work will slow Canelo down, and then it will be to the ropes with Canelo. Final prediction: ninth-round KO for GGG.”
Canelo vs. Golovkin could be boxing’s next big trilogy
11 September
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin are so evenly matched that it may take more than one fight to decide who’s the best middleweight boxer on the planet.
That’s the opinion of Oscar De La Hoya, the “Golden Boy” who won ten world titles at six different weights during an illustrious boxing career.
Now Alvarez’s promoter, De La Hoya believes his fighter and Golovkin have the potential to spark a trilogy of fights similar to Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier or Marco Antonio Barrera vs. Erik Morales.
“I had a dream about the best trilogies that boxing has delivered and I strongly feel that Canelo and Golovkin can be a trilogy,” De La Hoya said in The Times.
“That’s how difficult this fight is going to be for both guys, how evenly matched these guys are. Unless Canelo knocks out Gennady in two rounds, or Gennady knocks out Canelo in one round, but I don’t see that happening.
“I see this fight being a very close competitive fight for both guys. Therefore we can see another one.”
Billed as the “Supremacy”, the fight takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on September 16.
Kazakhstan’s Golovkin – who has an unbeaten record of 37 wins and 33 knockouts – will put his WBA and IBF titles on the line against Alvarez. If Alvarez wins, Golovkin’s other titles, the WBC and IBO, would then become vacant.
‘Triple G’ will be the favourite going into the bout, but there’s one man who thinks Alvarez has the best chance of beating him.
Floyd Mayweather, who inflicted Alvarez’s only career loss, said: “Do I think Triple G can beat Canelo? Absolutely not.
“I think there’s a few guys that can beat Triple G, and Canelo is on the top of the list. I believe that he’ll beat him. He’s got good punching power, but he’s flat-footed.”
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, British boxer Anthony Joshua also tipped Canelo to beat Golovkin.
Joshua said: “I hope Canelo wins, not that I don’t like Triple G. I have just been riding with Canelo for a long time.
“He's 27 and the man has achieved so much... He’s still a baby but he’ll be one of the fathers in the sport, give him another 10 years.
“He’ll be around for a long time and I think he’ll do great things for the sport.
“So I have been riding with Canelo for a long time but it’s going to be a tough fight because Triple G is from Kazakhstan. He has the good foundations of a boxer. But so has Canelo, so I’ll put my money on him.”
How to watch Canelo vs. GGG
Canelo vs. Golovkin will be shown in the UK via BoxNation Box Office pay-per-view (Channel 490 on Sky). The event costs £16.95.