The victor of this Saturday’s collision between Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez will not only become the world’s consensus Middleweight king, but also boxing’s newest megastar, with top-of-the-pile Pound for Pound bragging rights to boot. More than belts, career-high paydays and PPV records, this colossal meeting is about national pride and legacy-securing. In other words, the very best fighting the very best.
At Middleweight, there is no tougher fight out there for these elites. Golovkin has never faced anyone like Canelo, a strong, hungry bull, still well in his prime. As for Canelo, the bar is just as high, if not higher. The 27-year-old has never felt the wrath of a natural-born puncher like Golovkin, whose devastating KO artistry is unparalleled in Middleweight history.
Can Canelo withstand Golovkin’s relentless pressure and devastating power? Can Golovkin, now 35, cope with Canelo’s counter-punching prowess, speed, and renowned body attacks? Who will execute the smarter gameplan to leave with the WBC, WBA, IBF and RING Middleweight titles when it’s all said and done? The world will be watching, and with countless good reasons.
Golovkin vs Canelo: Fight Night Lowdown
Fight Time & TV Channel
The televised broadcast gets underway on HBO Pay Per View in the US, ringing in at $79.99 from 8:00pm. UK fight fans can catch the action from 1:00am (Sunday) on Boxnation Box Office at £16.95. Note: ‘Existing paid’ Boxnation subscribers can watch the Golovkin vs Canelo event at no extra cost, but those who receive Boxnation for free via BT Sport will have to book. Sky and Virgin Media customers can book through their Pay Per View menu portals.
Full Undercard
- Diego De La Hoya (19-0, 9 KO) vs Randy Caballero (24-0, 14 KO) – Junior Featherweight | 12 rounds
- Antonio Orozco (26-0, 17 KO) vs Roberto Ortiz (35-1-2, 26 KO) – Welterweight | 10 rounds
- Ryan Martin (19-0, 11 KO) vs Francisco Rojo (20-2, 13 KO) – Lightweight | 10 rounds
- Vergil Ortiz vs (6-0, 6 KO) Cesar Valenzuela (7-1, 2 KO) – Junior Welterweight | 6 rounds
- Nicola Adams (2-0, 1 KO) vs Alexandra Vlajk (11-6, 2 KO) – Junior Bantamweight | 4 rounds
Golovkin vs Canelo: Extended Tale of the Tape, Facts & Stats
Note: Advantageous stats are indicated in red (some may be subjective), and championship stats refer to ‘fully fledged world titles’ only.
Gennady Golovkin vs Canelo Alvarez
Physical/Vital
Birthplace
Karaganda, Kazakhstan … Guadalajara, Mexico
Age
35 … 27
Height
5’ 11” … 5′ 9″
Reach
70″ … 71″
Stance
Orthodox … Orthodox
Record
Debut
2006 … 2005
Bouts
37 … 51
Wins / Defeats / Draws / KOs
37-0, 33 KO … 49-1-1, 34 KO
Knockout Ratio
89% … 67%
Last 5 Fights
5-0, 4 KO … 5-0, 3 KO
Last 10 Fights
10-0, 9 KO … 9-1, 5 KO
1st Round Knockouts
5 … 5
2nd Round “
7 … 7
3rd Round “
6 … 2
4th Round “
2 … 3
5th Round “
4 … 3
6th Round “
2 … 4
7th Round “
2 … 0
8th Round “
3 … 1
9th Round “
0 … 4
10th Round “
1 … 2
11th Round “
1 … 1
12th Round “
0 … 2
Defeats by Knockout
0 … 0
Knockdowns Suffered
0 … 0
Rounds Boxed
172 … 353
12-Rounders Completed
1 … 10
Current Winning Streak
37 … 7
Undefeated Fighters Defeated
3 … 5
Latest Win
Daniel Jacobs (UD 12) … Julio Cesar Chavez Jr (UD 12)
Close Fights
Daniel Jacobs (UD 12) … Erislandy Lara (SD 12), Miguel Cotto (UD 12)
Catchweight Fights
Golovkin: None
Canelo: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr (164 lbs), Amir Khan, Miguel Cotto, James Kirkland, Erislandy Lara (155), Floyd Mayweather (152)
Middleweight Fights (160 lbs)
37 … None
World Title Bout Experience
Wins / Defeats / Draws / KOs
18-0, 17 KO … 10-1, 6 KO
Successful Defenses
17 … 6
Longest Championship Reign
12/2010 – Present … 03/2011 – 09/2013
Major Titles Won
WBC, WBA, IBF (160 lbs) … WBC (160, 154 lbs), WBA (154), WBO (154)
Major Titles Currently Held
WBC, WBA, IBF (160 lbs) … RING (160 lbs)
Boxing Base Top 10 World Ranking
No.1 … No.2
Notable Performances
GOLOVKIN: Daniel Jacobs (UD 12), Kell Brook (TKO 5), David Lemieux (TKO 8), Willie Monroe Jr (TKO 6), Martin Murray (TKO 11), Marco Antonio Rubio (KO 2), Daniel Geale (TKO 3), Curtis Stevens (RTD 8)
CANELO: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr (UD 12), Liam Smith (KO 9), Amir Khan (KO 6), Miguel Cotto (UD 12), James Kirkland (KO 3), Erislandy Lara (SD 12), Floyd Mayweather Jr (LOSS: MD 12), Austin Trout (UD 12)
Common Opponents
None
So what about it, fight fans? Who do you have in the year’s biggest showdown, Golovkin vs Canelo? How does this titanic Middleweight matchup unfold at the weekend? Is it a genuine 50-50 affair? Or does one fighter possess a clear edge in your opinion?
