The third match between Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin will take place in about a week.
Future Hall of Famers battled for a contention draw in middleweight in 2017, and Alvarez (57-2-2, 39 KOs) won a majority decision in the same weight division the following year. . They’ll finally meet for a third time on pay-per-view on September 17 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, this time in super-medium.
The biggest difference between the first two meetings – aside from the weights – was the perception that 40-year-old Golovkin (42-1-1, 37 KOs) was on the decline, which led many to believe that this could be a battle. two-way match in favor of Alvarez.
At the same time, the star power of both of them will surely fill the arena and attract millions of spectators worldwide.
Here are the five questions – and answers – that go into the fray.
WHY IS THIS COMPETITION?
Because there is a need for it. Alvarez doesn’t want to fight a third match with Golovkin, whom he clearly dislikes after the Kazakh player made comments he found offensive. And, as Alvarez said so many times, “The business is over.” However, we are here. Just to be clear: It’s not a big fight because of the perception that Triple-G is on the decline. However, enough fans will buy the event to make it more profitable than all but a few potential competitors. Golovkin is old but he still has a fan base that will buy into him, especially to fight against his arch-rival. Also, DAZN, the company affiliated with both boxers, has been pressing Alvarez to accept this fight for years because of the money on the table. The fact that it happens in 2022 isn’t ideal but Eddie Hearn and Co. sure happy that two of their biggest stars are finally going to fight one more time.
IS GOLOVKIN TOO COMPETITION?
That’s hard to say. He struggled to get past the rugged Sergiy Derevyanchenko to defend his IBF title in October 2019, which led many observers to assume he failed. He recovered to take down Kamil Szeremeta in December 2020 and Ryota Murata this past April but his critics insist that he still looks a step behind and more vulnerable than he was just a few years earlier. Golovkin may have fallen to an extent but he is still a formidable all-around boxer, relying on experience and wits to make up for any physical decline. Alternatively, momentum could also be an issue for Triple-G in his recent games. That won’t be a problem when he faces Alvarez. He knows that the fight could be his last stand as a superstar. He will be as hungry as ever when he enters the ring, which will serve him well when the opening bell rings.
HOW WILL FIGHTERS ADJUST TO 168 POUNDS?
Alvarez will drop to 168 after the start of the Bivol fight, which takes place at 175. Golovkin will move up a division after fighting his entire career at 160. Who has the advantage? Probably Alvarez. He’s currently a natural 168-pounder, having fought there for the first time in 2018. He shouldn’t have much trouble shedding 8 pounds from his body, though it’s getting tougher. when a boxer gets old. I expect him to be strong in this fight. Golovkin will probably feel stronger than ever at 168 as he no longer struggles to get to 160, which must have been a challenge for him in recent years. However, there are potential problems. He will receive punches from a 168-pound natural athlete for the first time, including body bombs. And he will probably lose some punching power, which is typical in these cases. All that said, I doubt this will be a huge advantage for Alvarez.
HAVE A LOT OF ALVAREZ FAILURE TO DMITRY BIVOL AFFECT MY CONFIDENCE?
No possibility. Alvarez had a firm belief in himself long before he became a star in the sport. It’s part of who he is. And we can look back at how he reacted after another setback. He was overtaken by Hall of Famer Floyd Mayweather in 2013 – I scored the winning goal in the closing game, 120-108 – but he used the loss as a learning and recovery experience to become a a serious opponent. Of course, boxers don’t get that kind of education at the age of 31, as Alvarez did in One-sided loss for Bivol in the May. However, you can bet that he will grow as a fighter. And remember: He took a considerable risk by putting on weight to face a brilliant, experienced boxer in Bivol. He is not afraid to challenge himself. Sometimes that leads to disappointment. Alvarez was aware that would happen during the war.
WHO WILL WIN?
Alvarez. The Mexican star has a favorite score of 5-1, which is an especially wide margin after two close-quarter fights between them. And the odds were right. One cannot ignore the age of the boxers. The eight-year difference wasn’t a significant factor when they met in 2017 and 2018, but since Golovkin is now in his 40s it matters a lot. I give the weaker a change to win the fight because of his familiarity with Alvarez, his experience, his strength and the fact that he will be as motivated as he is. used to. However, Alvarez is a great boxer still in his prime. And he will also have extra motivation because he wants to prove his loss to Bivol was a mistake. Indeed, Alvarez is too young, too good and too determined against an opponent that is clearly not what he used to be.
