LAS VEGAS?Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez is the new king of the middleweight division after edging Gennady ?GGG? Golovkin by majority decision on Saturday night.
In an action-packed bout, Alvarez showed a new dimension by standing toe-to-toe with Golovkin, who is one of the best attacking fighters in the sport.
The 28-year-old Alvarez, a skilled counterpuncher, appeared to surprise his 36-year-old opponent by taking an aggressive approach from the opening bell. Although Golovkin?s jab was effective, Alvarez?s constant pressure was a different tactic from their first bout.
In that fight in Sept. 2017, most ringside observers felt Golovkin won but the judges ruled a split draw. Prior to Saturday?s rematch, both Golovkin and his trainer Abel Sanchez said they hoped Alvarez wouldn?t ?run? and instead choose to stand and fight.
That?s exactly what Alvarez (50-1-2, 34 KOs) did as he showed his versatility in adjusting his game plan.
?I showed my victory with facts. He was the one who was backing up. I feel satisfied because I gave a great fight. It was a clear victory,? Alvarez said.
Judges Dave Moretti and Steve Weisfeld scored the fight 115-113 for Alvarez, while Glenn Feldman had it 114-114.
On their scorecards, both Moretti and Weisfeld had the fight even headed into the 12th round, while Feldman had Alvarez ahead by one point.
As the crowd of 21,965 in T-Mobile Arena stood and cheered, both fighters landed big shots in the final stanza. Moretti and Weisfeld awarded the round 10-9 in favor of Alvarez, which turned out to be the winning margin, while Feldman gave the round to Golovkin, making his card a draw.
?I had it close going into the 12th round. We had good judges who saw it from different angles. I can?t complain about the decision, but it?s close enough to warrant a third fight. Canelo fought a great fight. Congratulations,? Sanchez said.
Canelo Alvarez won the rematch for supremacy of the middleweight division. Canelo Alvarez won the rematch for supremacy of the middleweight division. PHOTO: CHRIS FARINA/ZUMA PRESS Golovkin (38-1-1, 34 KOs), who suffered a cut above his right eye that required eight stitches, said he thought he outperformed Alvarez.
?I?m not going to say who won [Saturday], because the victory belongs to Canelo, according to the judges. I thought it was a very good fight for the fans and very exciting. I thought I fought better than he did,? Golovkin said.
According to CompuBox, Golovkin landed 234 of 879 punches (27%), while Alvarez landed 202 of 622 punches (32%). Golovkin held the advantage in jabs (118 to 59), while Alvarez hit on more power punches (143 to 116).
Throughout the fight, Golovkin was effective with his jab, but Alvarez managed to absorb the blows and score with power shots, particularly uppercuts and right hands to the body.
HBO analyst Roy Jones Jr. said the fight developed the way that Golovkin had wanted it to but he didn?t really have an answer for Alvarez?s new aggression.
?Canelo came to fight. [Golovkin] asked him to come and fight and he did that. He gave you what you asked for,? Jones said.
Alvarez?s trainer Eddy Reynoso said after studying film of the first fight they found an effective way to thwart Golovkin?s aggressive style. ?We saw the best way to defeat him was make him go backward. That?s what we saw. The best way to get the victory was moving him backward.?
Saturday?s rematch had been initially scheduled for May 5, but was canceled after Alvarez failed a pair of drug tests administered by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA). He tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol, which Alvarez blamed on his consumption of contaminated beef in Mexico. As a result, he was given a six-month suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission and the bout had to be renegotiated for this Mexican Independence Day weekend.
Canelo Alvarez, left, and Gennady Golovkin embrace the final bell. Canelo Alvarez, left, and Gennady Golovkin embrace the final bell. PHOTO: ISAAC BREKKEN/ASSOCIATED PRESS Although there has appeared to be a growing animosity between the two fighters since they last stepped in the ring against each other 12 months ago, when the final bell rang on Saturday night, the rivals embraced in the ring.
Alvarez?s promoter Oscar De La Hoya and Golovkin?s promoter Tom Loeffler had always hoped Canelo-GGG would become a franchise event on a crowded sports calendar. Now after 24 rounds and two close decisions, it appears there may be a growing call for a third fight.
?That was a great fight, but in the end, it was a victory for Mexico,? Alvarez said. ?If the people want another round, I?ll do it again. But for right now, I will enjoy time with my family.?
After suffering the first loss in his professional career, Golovkin also seemed agreeable to a third fight.
?Under the right conditions, yes.?
