One year ago, most would've predicted an eventual knockout for GGG. While no boxing fan in their right mind would support the idea of a promoter "marinating" a big fight in order to milk its long-term financial potential, Golovkin (37-0, 33 KOs) enters the bout fresh off his most humanizing victory to date in March when Daniel Jacobs became the first fighter to push him to the 12-round limit (snapping his 23-fight knockout streak). That's what brings us back to the timing of the fight. There's also an element of career validation at play for both fighters, each of whom have yet to score the singular defining victory of their careers. Not only are both fighters still within the city limits of their respective primes - unlike Mayweather-Pacquiao or even Mayweather-Alvarez, which did big business but saw Canelo, at 23, still too green for center stage - there's a real 50/50 feel on paper as to which fighter will win. Should Alvarez-Golovkin end up delivering what is promised in terms of action while stamping the winner as the confirmed face of the sport in the post Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao era, it isn't out of the question to suggest the fight could help launch a return to the days of old - a time when big fights could not only command the attention of the general sporting public, but (most importantly) hold that attention firm by delivering upon the promise of the promotion for entertainment and building true momentum. And it comes at the tail end of a renaissance comeback year for boxing which has featured a rejuvenated heavyweight division and more quality matchups consistently being made than any year (outside of 2013) this decade. In fact, it's difficult not to compare the anticipation to that of classic showdowns like Marvin Hagler-Thomas Hearns. Late into a decade which has featured alternate good and horrifically bad years in terms of big fights being made (and more importantly delivering), this is a fight that retains a very old school feel. In fact, one can argue that the delay has only made it feel like a bigger event, allowing Alvarez's elite skill set at age 27 to catch up with his immense popularity. But it's a superfight just the same and may be more important than others in recent memory simply for the timeless message it presents: That it's essential for the best to fight the best, regardless of danger, in order to uphold the overall health of the sport.īoth Alvarez (49-1-1, 34 KOs) and Golden Boy Promotions may have delayed the bout 12-18 months longer than they should have, but they haven't missed the window of expiration in making the fight count. ET), there's a combination of compelling elements that make this fight feel unique to others in recent years.Īdmittedly, this fight isn't exactly a lock to threaten the record for PPV buys.
Heck, you can even talk about the simple fact that its the antithesis of the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor circus that the sports world (and beyond) was subjected to all summer.īut regardless of which element of the fight has you most excited entering Saturday's pay-per-view showdown in Las Vegas between unified titleholder Gennady Golovkin and lineal champion Canelo Alvarez ( HBO PPV, 8 p.m. You can even bring up how important the fight is to the careers of both participants. You can mention the prize at stake of the still glamorous middleweight championship of the world. “I gave him a little bit of his own medicine and he didn’t like it.You can mention the potential for fireworks. “He’s got to realise, I’ve been here before,” Mayweather said. Unsurprisingly Mayweather declared himself the victor in the verbal sparring, saying McGregor’s incessant trash-talking indicated he had rattled the Irish fighter. Defeated Manny Pacquiao delivers another gut punch to his impressive legacy.Manny Pacquiao to “think hard” about retirement following stunning defeat to “not really good” Jeff Horn.“There is a storm coming to Bellator” as proud Emirati MMA fighter Mohammad Yahya targets big time after historic deal.
They got entertained today by both competitors.”
To have a sold-out arena like today and give these fans something real smooth and calm? They don’t want that. “We have to give people what they want to see,” the former welterweight king said. Mayweather later appeared relaxed during a briefing with print reporters, suggesting his snarling braggadocio on stage had been solely for the benefit of the fans who had flocked to the arena.
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