Effectively, it was definitely extra Leonard-Duran 3 than Ali-Frazier 3 – that’s for rattling certain.
The Canelo Alvarez-Gennadiy Golovkin rivalry concluded with a whimper at the exact same venue – the T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas – the place it started half a decade in the past. Canelo walked away a 12-round unanimous determination winner, the undisputed tremendous middleweight champ and he’ll eternally maintain a 2-0-1 lead within the trilogy – formally.
Compared to the primary two battles, this one was a waltz. Golovkin was so timid along with his offense over the primary two thirds of the struggle that Canelo racked up the rounds in second gear. As a struggle fan, you turn into pissed off when an occasion fails to stay as much as expectations, however we’ve been down this highway earlier than.
Virtually 33 years in the past, lower than two miles away from the T-Cellular Enviornment, on the then-newly constructed Mirage, Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran went by means of the motions in a 3rd struggle. It was a battle of boxing legends, however the one fireworks that night time had been let off earlier than the fighters entered the short-term outside area. Leonard gained a call and the gang booed throughout the closing phases. Sound acquainted?
Final night time’s official scoring (115-113, 115-113 and 116-112) was a shocker. I had 119-109 Canelo, which is wider than most playing cards I’ve seen. Nevertheless, it was by no means a 7-5 struggle. I do know quite a lot of followers and specialists had GGG profitable a lot of the remaining third, however I didn’t see it that method. Whereas Golovkin threw extra punches late than he did early, I used to be cautious to not be overly charitable. He did nothing early, so any improve in punch output was going to look extra spectacular. I simply felt Canelo was extra constant.
Picture by Ed Mulholland/ Matchroom
Golovkin, 40, is a powerful warrior and one of many most interesting fighters of his technology. He jogs into the Corridor of Fame on a first-ballot nomination and his physique of labor won’t ever be forgotten. What we noticed final night time was an amazing previous fighter attain the top of the highway. In the event you look again on the first two fights, Golovkin nonetheless has his timing and reflexes. He attacked with confidence and punished Canelo for his errors. Final night time, there was a split-second delay from mind to limbs. That’s age.
As for the ultimate rating on this trilogy, there’ll all the time be a gripe. Canelo was very fortunate to get a 12-round cut up determination draw within the 2017 authentic – and he is aware of it. If Golovkin will get that win, then the division goes in a totally totally different path. And whereas I assumed Canelo legitimately gained the epic 2018 rematch, a black cloud will all the time cling over that victory as a result of the Mexican star failed a VADA take a look at months earlier. The truth that GGG comes out of this rivalry with no win will likely be disheartening for a lot of. I bear in mind feeling the identical method after Manny Pacquiao was given charity in his third struggle with Juan Manuel Marquez. Like Canelo over GGG, “PacMan” had a 2-0-1 lead in that trilogy, however Marquez obtained vindication by nailing his rival to the ground in a fourth struggle. Golovkin will get no such alternative.
Whereas he nonetheless holds IBF and WBA middleweight titles, I’d wish to see GGG name it a day. He’s obtained completely nothing left to show.
And what of Canelo shifting ahead? He didn’t look significantly nice in that struggle. I feel the duty was simpler than he’d anticipated and he virtually seemed bored at occasions. Try to discover a second in both of the primary two encounters the place he popped Golovkin with a shot, turned his again and walked away nonchalantly. You’ll be looking for some time. I feel the previous pound for pound king is usually a lot higher than he was final night time though I nonetheless wouldn’t permit him in the identical zip code as WBA gentle heavyweight champ Dmitry Bivol. Canelo is an actual preventing man and he’ll be aching to avenge Might’s humiliating factors defeat. I simply assume he’d be higher off concentrating on one other gentle heavyweight, or perhaps tremendous middleweight bogeyman David Benavidez.
Bivol’s type is poison and it doesn’t appear to be Canelo has the antidote.
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CANELO CLEARLY DEFEATS GGG TO PUT EXCLAMATION POINT ON TRILOGY
