By Michael Malaszczyk: The verdict is in, and Canelo has beaten GGG in his decider, 116-112 on one scorecard and 115-113 on two others.
Personally, those scorecards are a bit close for comfort, as this fight wasn’t really even at all. This writer personally scored it 117-111, 9 rounds to 3, for Canelo, and even that looks like it could be a bountiful round for GGG.
However, both men can hold their heads high as they have given us another great trilogy for the boxing history books. Canelo is great, and no one can deny that right now. He deserves all the credit and praise that he will receive after this fight. But Golovkin deserves special recognition here after his first decisive loss.
He just fought twelve rounds with a man many expected to knock him out, a man who swept the 168-pound division and became one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport. GGG should have at least one win against Canelo in his first fight, and possibly two in his second. Unfortunately, he didn’t get any. But he won a moral victory here.
Going the distance with Canelo at age 40, GGG has proven beyond a doubt that raw for raw, he pairs well with Canelo. He can take Canelo’s shots and even has some good defensive skills of his own; Those defensive skills were on display tonight, as GGG blocked or slipped many of Canelo’s punches, something all of Canelo’s recent opponents except Bivol have failed to do. He just couldn’t pull the trigger and get a big offense, but that’s what you’d expect from a fighter his age.
GGG, in the eyes of most, won the first fight handily. He also won the second fight in the eyes of many, but it was much closer, and perhaps between the first two, the rematch should have been a draw. There is no shame in losing a decision to a major champion at 40 years old.
Perhaps GGG’s legacy would be in question if Canelo had knocked him out. But he didn’t, and his legacy as a great middleweight remains secure. GGG went 36 rounds with a man many consider to be one of the best to do so. GGG went through more rounds than any of Canelo’s opponents, and he was never particularly hurt in these fights.
All props for Canelo, a great legendary fighter of all time. But keep your head up, Golovkin. You have made your fans proud. Without a doubt, one of the best middleweights of all time.
