It’s been twelve months in the making, but the rematch between Kazakhstan’s Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin and Mexican Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez finally takes place today in Las Vegas! Join The Roar for round-by-round updates and debate in our live blog from noon (AEST).
The world’s two best middleweights fought an exciting but controversial draw this time last year at the same venue.
Both camps felt that they did enough to win that fight and will be keen to take the decision out of the judge’s hands today with a KO.
This rematch was originally scheduled for May, but that plan went up in smoke after Alvarez tested positive for steroids and was banned for six months back in March. GGG kept busy in the meantime with a second-round KO of American Vanes Martirosyan (36-4-1).
Golovkin’s WBC, WBA and IBO belts are up for grabs today. Alverez had the IBF belt when the pair last met, but he has since been stripped of it.
Canelo has previously held world title belts at both middleweight and light middleweight. The only loss of his career was against Floyd Mayweather back in 2013.
GGG turned pro after winning a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Incredibly, Alvarez turned pro when he was just 15!
Golovkin enters the bout as the favourite, just like he did last time. But there’s good reasons why both fighters can win.
Why GGG can win
Golovkin has a stunning KO record, with 34 of his 39 career fights ending early. His average bout lasts just under five rounds.
But although he relies on his punching power, he showed in the first fight that he does have boxing skills he can call on over a 12-round fight, thanks to his extensive amateur pedigree.
He’s never been knocked down, either as an amateur or a pro.
Why Canelo can win
Like GGG, Alvarez has never been knocked down and he has a knockout punch himself (34 career KOs).
He also has plenty of experience grounding out a 12-round win. GGG has only been the 12-round distance twice in his career, including his last bout with Canelo.
Alvarez is also the younger man, arguably in his prime at 28 and very experienced for a fighter his age. GGG is 36.
Prediction
Both fighters will go for the KO, but both also have granite chins, so it will go the distance again and become another classic. It will be a split decision either way.
Time: From noon (AEST), Sunday 15 September
Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
TV: Live, Main Event
Fight Records: Golovkin 38-0-1, Alvarez 49-1-2
Betting: Golovkin $1.57, Alvarez $2.30
Brendan Jones
Roar Rookie
On review ggg 7 rounds canelo 5 but still no way canelo wins
Chayce
Guest
I had Canelo 115-113 as two of the judges did, very close fight though and could’ve been a draw. Brendan, the belt was half Mexican pattern and half Kazak pattern, you just couldn’t see it that clearly because of the way the new champion was holding it.
Davico
Roar Pro
Was with a mate and we always score round by round when watching fights and have both fought and watched a lot of fights. We never tell each other what we had for the round but both came up with the same score as you Brendan. I am not going to go robbery as a lot of the rounds were close, but GGG seemed to do enough to give the champ the benefit of the doubt in the close rounds. As has been said you need to WIN the fight if your the challenger and for mine Canelo did not do enough to TAKE the belts. I hope they fight again as both fights have been great and both have iron chins. Mungia was very impressive but not sure the other bloke should have been in the same ring as him.
farqueue
Roar Rookie
well we know its gunna go canelos way if hes still standing at the end. that was a lot closer than the first fight and i can live with that decision but after 2 fights GGG has 1 loss and 1 draw which is a disgrace.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
I had it slightly to GGG Brendan, but I had the first fight last year slightly to Canelo. Part of the issue in both fights is that the rounds are close, so they plenty could go either way. I was surprised Canelo fought toe to toe tonight, it was a very different style to how he fought in the first bout. GGG's punching power must be starting to fade a little at 36, I don't think anyone would have survived doing that a few years ago.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Thanks for joining me on the coverage, hope you enjoyed it.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Fight report Saul ’Canelo’ Alvarez has won an epic toe-to-toe slugfest with Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin to win the WBC, WBA and IBO world middleweight titles in Las Vegas. At the end of a rugged 12 rounds, two judge’s scorecards favoured Canelo 115-113, while the third had it a draw at 114-114. Canelo surprised many with his tactics in this bout, being prepared to stand toe-to-toe with noted puncher Golovkin in centre ring, unlike their drawn first fight last year where he relied on his footwork and back-foot counterpunching. GGG also surprised many with his stamina, finishing the stronger of the two, despite being 36 and eight years older than Canelo. But Canelo banked earlier rounds in the minds of the judges to give him the edge in the final analysis. Many of the rounds in the fight were close and could have been scored either way. Both fighters landed heavy shots at different stages of the bout. Canelo was cut over the left eye midway through the bout, while GGG was cut late. The win was the 50th of Canelo’s career, he now moves to 50-2-1. His only defeat came against Floyd Mayweather in 2013. It’s the first defeat of GGG’s career, with his record slipping to 38-1-1. He left the ring as the decision was announced, giving no immediate post-fight interviews. But there will surely have to be a third match between these two warriors. GGG will no doubt be keen to set up a trilogy to even the score. It will be another lucrative payday for both fighters. It was a great night of boxing in Vegas, with the undercard featuring spectacular KOs from Mexican super welterweight world champion Jaime Mungia, as well as from Canadian middleweight David Lemieux and Nicaraguan super flyweight Roman Gonzalez.
Brendan Jones
Roar Rookie
After two bogus decisions, I don’t think canelo did near enough to win either fight, and how convenient that the wbc made a Mexican belt hmmm ??
Brendan Jones
Roar Rookie
Ggg no interview, good he just got screwed out of his titles, no wonder he doesn’t want to talk
Brendan Jones
Roar Rookie
How convenient that the Wbc made a Mexican title belt, corrupt much???
Brendan Jones
Roar Rookie
What did you think John??
Brendan Jones
Roar Rookie
I had it eight rounds four to ggg
Brendan Jones
Roar Rookie
No way canelo won that fight
Brendan Jones
Roar Rookie
Bulls--t canelo won that fight, what a corrupt sport boxing is!!!!!!!
John Coomer
Roar Guru
GGG Alvarez III next year will surely have to happen after these two great fights.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
The judges' scores reflect the closeness of the fight. Like the first one, it could have gone either way.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Judges decisions 114-114, 115-113 (Alvarez), 115-113 (Alvarez)
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Canelo wins by majority decision!!
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Now waiting for the judges’ decisions. Both fighters claiming victory.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Round 12 Both fighters giving it everything, trading in entre ring as they have done the whole fight! This has been a war! Canelo slips and falls halfway through the round, no knockdown. An even round, could go either way. Possibly Canelo for landing more quality shots, Golvkin was cut over his left eye. Whichever way this fight goes, it will be close, and there will have to be a 3rd bout.