There is one week left for the third fight between Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin.
The future Hall of Famers fought to a disputed draw at middleweight in 2017 and Alvarez (57-2-2, 39 KOs) won a majority decision at the same weight the following year. They will finally meet for the third time on pay-per-view on September 17 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, this time at super middleweight.
The biggest difference between the first two meetings, other than weight, is the perception that the 40-year-old Golovkin (42-1-1, 37 KOs) is on the decline, leading many to believe this could be one. . Fight in favor of Álvarez.
At the same time, the star power of both men will undoubtedly fill the arena and attract millions of viewers around the world.
Here are five questions – and answers – for the fight.
WHY IS THIS FIGHT HELD?
Because there is a demand for it. Alvarez did not want a third fight with Golovkin, whom he evidently does not like after the Kazakh made comments he found objectionable. And, as Álvarez said in so many words, “That’s a done deal.” Yet here we are. To be clear: This is not a great fight due to the perception that Triple-G is on the decline. However, enough fans will accept the event for it to be more profitable than all but a few potential matchups. Golovkin is old, but he still has a fan base that will buy him, particularly for a fight against his archrival. Additionally, DAZN, which is affiliated with both fighters, has pressured Alvarez into accepting this matchup for years because of the money on the table. The fact that it happens in 2022 isn’t ideal, but Eddie Hearn and company are undoubtedly happy that two of their biggest stars are finally fighting one more time.
IS GOLOVKIN TOO OLD TO BE COMPETITIVE?
That’s hard to say. He battled his way past the burly Sergiy Derevyanchenko in defense of his IBF title in October 2019, leading many observers to suggest he was slipping. He bounced back to knock out Kamil Szeremeta in December 2020 and Ryota Murata last April, but critics of him claimed he still seemed a step slower and more vulnerable than he was just a few years earlier. Golovkin has probably faded to some degree, but he remains a formidable fighter in every way, relying on experience and ring intelligence to make up for any physical deterioration. Plus, motivation could have been an issue for Triple-G in his recent fights as well. That won’t be a problem when he faces Alvarez. He knows that fight could be his last stand as a superstar. He’ll be as hungry as ever when he steps into the ring, which should serve him well when the opening bell rings.
HOW WILL FIGHTERS ADJUST AT 168 POUNDS?
Alvarez will drop back down to 168 after bulking up for the Bivol fight, which took place at 175. Golovkin will move up in division after fighting his entire career at 160. Who has the advantage? Probably Alvarez. He is now a natural 168-pounder, having first fought there in 2018. He shouldn’t have too much trouble taking eight pounds off his frame, though that gets more difficult as a fighter gets older. I hope he is strong in this fight. Golovkin will probably feel stronger than ever at 168 because he no longer has to struggle to make 160, which must have been a challenge for him in recent years. However, there are potential problems. He will take blows from a natural 168-pound fighter for the first time, including body bombs from him. And he’ll probably have lost some punching power, which is typical in these circumstances. All that said, I doubt this will be a huge advantage for Alvarez.
WOULD ALVAREZ’S LOSS TO DMITRY BIVOL HAVE AFFECTED YOUR CONFIDENCE?
Not likely. Álvarez had an unshakable belief in himself long before he became a star in the sport. It’s part of who he is. And we can remember how he responded after another disheartening setback. He was outclassed by Hall of Famer Floyd Mayweather in 2013: I scored the fight shutout, 120-108, but he used the loss as a learning experience and bounced back to become a pound-for-pound stalwart. Of course, boxers aren’t supposed to get that kind of education at 31, like Alvarez did in his one-sided loss to Bivol in May. However, you can bet that he will have grown as a fighter. And remember: he took a significant risk moving up in weight to face a superb, experienced fighter in Bivol. He is not afraid to challenge himself. Sometimes that results in disappointment. Alvarez was aware of that going into the fight.
WHO WILL WIN?
Alvarez. The Mexican star is a 5-1 favorite, which is a particularly wide lead after two close fights between them. And the punters are right. The age of the fighters cannot be ignored. An eight-year difference wasn’t a significant factor when they met in 2017 and 2018, but with Golovkin now 40, it matters. I give the underdog a trade to win the fight because of his familiarity with Alvarez, his experience, his power and the fact that he will be as motivated as ever. However, Alvarez is a great fighter who remains at his best. And he will also have additional motivation because he wants to show that his loss to Bivol was an aberration. In fact, Alvarez is too young, too good and too determined for an opponent who is clearly not what he used to be.
