September 10, 2018
Here are the 5 questions to ask before the epic rematch between Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin.
By: Rob Frappier
On September 15, two of the greatest boxers in the world will meet for the second time when Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin (commonly referred to as GGG) face off at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The long-anticipated rematch follows a controversial draw during their first bout in 2017.
Whether you’re watching Canelo vs. GGG for the first time, or you’re back to watch another spectacular 12 rounds of boxing between the two middleweights, here are some questions to think about before the bout gets underway.
Will there be another controversial ending?
In a sport where big names and splashy tabloid drama get much of the attention, the first fight between Alvarez and Golovkin should have been remembered as one of the most thrilling true boxing matches in many years. Unfortunately, it was instead remembered for its unusual final scoring.
In a head-scratching decision, judge Adelaide Byrd scored the fight 118-110 for Alvarez. While the match was undoubtedly competitive and Alvarez fought hard, this was far out of line with the other judges, who scored the fight 115-113 for Golovkin and a 114-114 draw, respectively.
Almost all analysts agreed that the back and forth bout featured both fighters performing at an incredibly high level, calling to mind some of the greatest fights in boxing history. Hopefully, this rematch achieves the same level of drama without the curious conclusion. Either way, you can bet that the 2017 controversial result will be on everyone’s minds going into Canelo vs. GGG part 2.
Will GGG’s Power Win Out?
For much of the first match, Golovkin was able to back Alvarez into the ropes by staying aggressive. While he was not entirely as accurate as Alvarez, Golovkin landed almost 200 more punches overall and landed more punches for 10 out of the 12 rounds. However, many of the blows that landed were jabs and not Golovkin’s famous power punches.
In the rematch, keep an eye on Golovkin’s famous left hook. If that’s working for him, then Alvarez could be in big trouble and another addition to GGG’s list of KOs.
Will Canelo Focus on Defense Again?
The main reason Golovkin was unable to land his power punches was due to Alvarez’s tremendous defense. Although he was backed against the ropes for many of the early rounds, Alvarez never looked like he was completely overpowered. In fact, toward the end of the match, Alvarez came out much more aggressively, showing that he had the stamina to not only withstand the barrage but even counter it when it mattered most.
A fundamental question going into the rematch will be whether Alvarez chooses to rely on his excellent defense or if he decides to be more aggressive throughout the night.
