The best part about the Gennady Golovkin vs Canelo Alvarez result is that we will get to see that spectacular showdown again.
Two of the best middleweights in the world stepped inside the ring to decide who was the top dog in the division. After 12 hard-fought rounds, we still don’t know who holds that accolade as the fight went to a draw.
The bout began with a jab from Golovkin, and that was his go-to weapon in the opening three minutes. The Kazakh remained cautious in attack knowing that Canelo’s power and alacrity could pose problems. Canelo had his moments in the first round, but GGG edged him in terms of output.
In the second round, we saw a very rare sight as Canelo actually backed Golovkin up with some swift combinations. Nothing of any real venom landed flush, but Canelo’s ability to command respect from the knockout monster was noteworthy.
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The sleeping giant was woken up in round three as Golovkin came out more aggressive, swinging with bad intentions.Golovkin began pressuring the Mexican more by throwing more punches, but Canelo utilised his speed advantage beautifully to beat his opponent to the punch consistently. While Golovkin was throwing and landing more, Canelo was clearly landing the more authoritative punches.
The momentum swang in Golovkin’s favour in the fourth as he found home with harder shots. He backed Canelo up to the ropes a few times, but the counter puncher looked very calm in defence.
Both fighters appeared to be having more fun in the fifth. Golovkin pressed forward in his typical offence-heavy style, while Canelo was content sitting back and countering. The Mexican ate a big right hand against the ropes, then put on a show by dodging, weaving and shaking his head as GGG caught more air than flesh.
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A couple of heavy body punches from Canelo found their mark at the beginning of the sixth round, but again, it was the sheer workrate from Golovkin that was the story of the round. He did just enough to outland his adversary.
GGG kept up the consistency by remaining on the front foot for the seventh round. However, he made sure to disengage once Canelo started feeling comfortable against the ropes and looked to counter.
There was more of the same in the eighth and although Canelo’s energy levels appeared to be draining, he had the most noteworthy punch of the round – a vicious uppercut as Golovkin dug his heels in to exchange against the ropes. Golovkin’s jab proved very effective in terms of controlling the range and remaining active.
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Golovkin asserted his dominance in the ninth as he began stalking forward in pursuit of the finish. Canelo appeared to be in trouble on a couple of occasions, but lionhearted Canelo refused to give in and fought his way out of the fire.
Canelo burst out the gate of the 10th looking to prove a point. He stood in the centre of the ring and unloaded on Golovkin. While a lot fo his punches caught arms and gloves, a few managed to slip in and Golovkin was even knocked off balance with a beautiful counter. That early onslaught took its toll of Canelo though, who slowed down towards the closing seconds of the round.
All caution was thrown out the window for the final two rounds as both fighters let their hands go to put on a show for the fans. Canelo came out very aggressive in the final round, but it was Golovkin who finished the aggressor, throwing wild haymakers until the final bell.
The judges scored the fight 118-110 Canelo, 115-113 Golovkin , 114-114 meaning it ended in a draw.
