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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
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