Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs Gennady “GGG” Golovkin; Preview and Prediction
By Anthony “Stacks” Saldana
It was Cinco de Mayo weekend and boxing fans had just witnessed a lopsided bout between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Canelo had just solidified his position as the best Mexican boxer in the world and was being questioned by HBO’s Max Kellerman when Canelo announced he would be fighting unified middleweight champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin on September 16th. As soon as Canelo announced the fight, a highlight package played on the big screen inside of the T-Mobile Arena and GGG and his team made the walk into the ring. “GGG: You are next, my friend,” said Canelo Alvarez. “I’ve never feared anyone, since I was 16, fighting as a professional. When I was born, fear was gone. I never got my share of fear. I’m very happy, and the rivalry is going to show my skills even more. I’ve had difficult fights, and that will no doubt be a tough fight. But, they will say, Canelo Alvarez is the best because I fight the best.”
“I feel very excited; in September, it will be a different style-a big drama show,” said Golovkin. “I’m ready. I think everyone is excited for September. 100 percent, Canelo is the biggest challenge of my career. Good luck to Canelo in September.
At 26 years old Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (49-1-1, 34 KO’s) from Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico is a former WBC and WBA Super Welterweight World Champion and is the reigning Lineal and Ring Magazine Middleweight Champion. Canelo is a Mexican superstar who has been in the ring with some of the biggest names in the sport including, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, and Floyd Mayweather. Recently however Alvarez has taken much criticism as he battled and knocked out a bulked up welterweight in Amir Khan at a catch weight of 155lbs. Then Canelo moved back down to 154lbs to take on knockout an over matched Liam Smith. Both fights ended as many in the boxing community expected. Then this past May Alvarez took on literally the biggest opponent of his career in Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Canelo out boxed and out classed Chavez Jr. for 12 rounds in a snooze fest. Now Alvarez moves into uncharted water, fighting at the middleweight limit of 160lbs for the first time in his career when he takes on Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (37-0, 33 KO’s). “I know what I have in front of me. I know he’s a strong fighter. He is the most dangerous opponent of my career, but I’m ready for him and what’s next to come,” stated Alvarez. “That’s why we prepared, and to give the fans a beautiful fight. This fight’s for you; this fight’s for all the fans who have been asking for it. We know that in fights, it takes two to tango. I’m ready, and you know what you’ll get from me. Let’s just hope he brings it as well.”
In his career Gennady Golovkin hasn’t had the Canelo type stardom, he’s not the “A” side, but that doesn’t matter. Golovkin is a (-170) favorite as he puts his WBA, WBC and IBF Middleweight titles on the line against “Canelo” Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Golovkin, a native of Kazakhstan has slowly become a household name, great promoting by HBO and by defending his middleweight title 18 times over the past seven years has helped. The reality is GGG just knocks people and fans love his “Mexican Style.” After capturing the WBA Middleweight Title in 2010 Golovkin has continued to make a name for himself by capturing the interim WBC and the IBF Middleweight Titles while defeating the likes of Curtis Stevens, David Lemieux and Kell Brook along the way. Then in March of this year Golovkin had his toughest bout to date he traveled to New York City to take on Daniel Jacobs. It was a very close fight, one in which Golovkin won by a slim unanimous decision. “GGG” was heavily favored and when the fight ended, many felt that Jacobs had done enough to get the victory. Golovkin recently spoke about the Jacobs fight and stated “Boxing is a business, if I look great against Jacobs, if I knocked him out, I would not be getting this fight with Canelo now.” Unlike Canelo Alvarez. Golovkin has spent his entire career at middleweight, but Golovkin isn’t taking that for granted “Canelo is very good. He has a good boxing IQ, speed and combinations. He is very strong, he is a true fighter, not a fake fighter. He has a warrior’s heart. I know Canelo, Canelo knows me. It’s a 50-50 fight,” said Golovkin.
Now fight week is upon us and the excitement is truly starting to sink in. “This fight needs no hype whatsoever,” said Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya, Alvarez’s promoter. “You have Canelo Alvarez, and you know what he can do and what he is all about and the hard work he puts into every single fight. He obviously has devastating punching power, tremendous speed, and great footwork. Then you have the champion here, Gennady Golovkin — undefeated, amazing, amazing power. This is a fight that is can’t miss. That’s the bottom line.”
But what can fans actually expect as these two greats go to toe to? Like I mentioned earlier this is Canelo’s first fight at 160lbs. He’s fought most of his bouts right around 155lbs. So in order to gain weight, Canelo has increased his muscle mass. The extra muscles aren’t always the best for fighters moving up in weight. Having too much muscle can actually slow down a fighter’s punch and decrease stamina required for a 12-round bout due to the extra oxygen the muscles take up. Golovkin however is 37 years old and father time is undefeated. In March Golovkin went the length of his fight for the first time in 11 years. Jacobs proved to world that the Boogieman wasn’t invincible. Both fighters are world class and each have a great boxing IQ, with that being said Golovkin has the better jab, a jab that in itself has the ability to drop Canelo at any time during the fight. Canelo is a big counter puncher who likes to lure his opponents in and waits to attack with vicious body shots. Alvarez also is exceptional at trading blows in the pocket and counter punching. Canelo’s hands are quicker than Golovkin’s and his combinations are electric. GGG will definitely need to be prepared to take a few hits. This is truly a 50/50 fight.
My prediction Gennady “GGG” Golovkin by late round stoppage. I expect “GGG” to use his skill set to out box Canelo early in the fight. Canelo will eventually realize that Golovkin doesn’t slip punches and is easy to hit as he begins to land very hard shots popping Golovkin’s head back in the middle rounds. As the fight goes along the extra weight will begin to take its toll on Alvarez, Golovkin who has never been dropped will withstand the Canelo onslaught and begin landing missile like jabs and devastating combinations forcing the corner of Canelo to throw in the towel to protect the Mexican warrior from himself as Canelo won’t quit on his own.
Canelo vs. Golovkin is a 12-round fight for the middleweight championship of the world presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions and sponsored by Tecate, BORN BOLD; Hennessy, Never Stop, Never Settle; O’Reilly Auto Parts. Better Parts, Better Prices…everyday!; Fred Loya Insurance; Interjet; Thor: Ragnarok; Fathom Events; Tsesnabank; and Capital Holdings.
Tickets for the closed circuit telecast of Canelo vs. Golovkin at Bellagio Resort & Casino, MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, The Mirage Hotel & Casino, Monte Carlo Resort and Casino, New York-New York Hotel & Casino, Luxor Hotel and Casino and Circus Circus Las Vegas are priced at $75, not including applicable fees. All seats are general admission and are currently on sale. Tickets may be purchased at any MGM Resorts International Box Office, by phone with a major credit card at 1-800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
(Feature photo: Getty images)
