A controversial points decision has seen Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez fight out a draw after their Las Vegas bout went the full twelve rounds.
Today is the day. If you like boxing you will be watching. Canelo vs GGG kicks off at 10am AEST. Join me and The Roar live from ringside at the T-Mobile arena, Las Vegas.
The middleweight division has historically been the most interesting and talent-filled division within boxing.
If GGG wins, he cements his legacy and can retire knowing he fought and beat the best. If Canelo wins, it’s a different story – he needs to win decisively to get rid of the GGG cloud that hovers over his reputation.
How will it play out? I don’t think anyone knows. What we do know is that both fighters plant their feet, GGG can cut the ring off but Canelo can slip better than almost anyone.
What we need to question is:
Can Canelo take GGG’s power and relentless body work?
Can GGG use head movement and avoid Canelo picking him off all night?
And does Canelo’s power actually translate to 160?
We know GGG is the bigger man, we know GGG has the better amateur record but we also know that GGG looked to be struggling against Jacobs.
Canelo definitely has talent but has also taken too many easy fights in the last couple of years. Liam Smith and Julio Cesar Chavez junior doesn’t prepare you for a fight with Golovkin.
Looking further, what does this fight mean for both fighters? Charlo is new to middleweight but he is the perfect stylistic matchup to beat GGG.
Canelo has options but being a small man, it might not necessarily be in the 160lb division.
All we can say for sure is that this is a fight that should happen, and we as fans win today either way.
My prediction: Canelo by points.
Join me and The Roar live from ringside at the T-Mobile arena, Las Vegas.
couldabeenacontender
Guest
Thought Canelo won a close decision, though it probably could have gone either way depending on how you see it and therefore the draw is fair enough. Golovkin seemed very rough around the edges and apart from the jab, struggled to get anything flush on Canelo. It was Canelo who had the better crisper punches. It's not as unrealistic as it sounds that one judge might have had it lopsided because there were so many close rounds that could have gone either way. It probably has to do with the scoring system where they have to give each round to someone. I thought 5 rounds were even with the remainder going 4-3 to Canelo. It also seems people score Golovkin higher simply for being the aggressor and throwing lots of punches for most of the fight, despite not being overly successful at it and despite Canelo's counters being very good. Canelo outboxed him IMO. If that is what gets the decision, defensive fighters might need another sport so that we can have toe to toe brawlers. People like Atlas make far too big a deal of it by claiming corruption. He said the same thing about Horn/Pacquiao, yet that decision wasn't unrealistic at all. To claim that everything you don't agree with must be corruption is arrogant and probably delusional . He seems far too emotionally invested in his own opinions to be objective in any way.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
I can only call it how I see it. As I said I like the draw great fight, but I had Canelo winning.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
This made me laugh.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
hahaha yeah I don't mind them thinking Canelo won, but 118-110 is a bit of a stretch
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Rematch any time. I'm ok with it. That was great and I would watch it again.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Compubox is so flawed that I discount it. 2 people sitting in a room hitting a button when they think someone landed a punch. Granted GGG was more active, but all night I was mentioning how his activity wasn't necessarily effective. Effective Aggression, ring generalship, clean hard punches. None of these support the case quantity over quality.
The Grafter
Guest
Look at the stats Bill plus consider judges are supposed to consider the fighter that takes the fight to his opponent gets 'merit' for doing so in the event of a close round. By my reckoning, GGG took rounds 3-12 to Canelo, and by landing a lot more punches should of won the fight. I guess it makes edition 2 a very easy sell. Oscar will be rubbing his hands. A great fight none the less regardless of a poor decision.
The Grafter
Guest
As a fight nut Sean, I cant disagree mate. The stats on compubox support your opinion.
Josh
Guest
I've been looking through different boxing sites, twitter, reading the views of ex-boxers, and I'm yet to find anyone that thinks Golovkin didn't win.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Interesting
GGG Robbed
Guest
On Twitter, Lennox Lewis, Lou DiBella and Enzo Maccarineilli all calling it (correctly) for Gennady. Shame they were't the official judges then justice would have been done.
The Grafter
Guest
Gennady Golovkin landed 40.1% of his total punches- #1 among active fighters and he's only active fighter to land 40% or more of his power punches now that Money is re-retired. GGG's 10.6 jabs landed per round also ranks #1, as does his 34.1% landed pct. for that jab. GGG (in his last 13 fights) threw 23.2 more punches per round than Canelo Alvarez (in his last 9 fights). GGG landed 26.2 punches per round (#4 on CompuBox Category Leaders list). GGG threw 12.4 more jabs per round than Canelo and 11.2 more power shots per round. GGG's commitment to his offense is reflected in his opponents power connect pct.- 34.5%, while opponents of the more selective Canelo landed just 11.4 punches per round (middle avg.: 16.7) & only 6.7 power shots per round (middle avg.: 11.9). Both GGG & Canelo landed 46% of their own power punches
terry tavita
Roar Rookie
you been riding canelo's coattails all night with your updates..no way that fight was a draw..
Marcus
Guest
I had it 117-111 for GGG. He won the last 2 minutes of every round after round 4. Only way he will be able to beat Canelo is by knockout because their will always be judges scoring it 118-110 for Canelo regardless of the fight. Disappointing
GGG Robbed
Guest
The lot of us that don't agree with it is because we can see it was daylight robbery.
The Grafter
Guest
Well the sun still comes up tomorrow, and yes bring on the next edition of these warriors.. As John Mugabi once said to me, do not let the judges in the US control your destiny, regardless if they are 'neutral' or not. KO your opponent.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
I disagree. As I said earlier, I had Canelo winning on my card, but it was really close and think a draw is fine.
Kavvy
Guest
Watched the whole fight, am OK with the draw, far from a robbery but personally had GGG up based on jabs and a bit more ring generalship. Great fight. Adalaide Byrd has to be fires though 118-110? if she had Canelo winning 115-113 or 116-112 then maybe she wasn't corrupt but 10 rounds to 2?! Heard it predicted before the fight (her judging would be outta whack in Canelo's favour no matter what actually happened)
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Ward vs Kovalev 1 - all three judges had the same score. Everyone said that looked sus. I understand judges having very different cards. You get one seat at ring side so you are looking up through the ropes at one angle all night. They don't see what you see on tv.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
I wanted Canelo to win but I thought it was GGG 115-113 or even a draw. Its not a rubbish result. The only question I have is for the judge who scored it 118-110. There is no way it was that.