SAN DIEGO, September 4, 2017 ? Now that summer?s combat sports comedy show is behind us, two of the world?s most skilled and feared boxers will put their legacy on the line in one of the sport?s most anticipated fights in many years.
Unified middleweight champion Gennady ?Triple G? Golovkin (37-0, 33 KOs) and Mexican superstar Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez (49-1-1, 34 KOs) finally meet in the ring on Saturday, September 16, at a sold-out T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Golovkin?s WBA, IBF, and WBC titles are on the line, but the real prize is proving which star deserves the spot at the top of boxing?s pound for pound list.
September 16, Mexican Independence Day, traditionally features a championship fight of interest to the boxing crazy nation of Mexico and fans of Mexican boxing everywhere. But loyalties are split among knowledgeable fight fans and boxing media between Alvarez, age 27, boxing?s biggest name in Mexico today; and Golovkin, age 35, a Kazakhstan native relocated to Los Angeles who has adopted the fan friendly, aggressive ?Mexican Style? favored by his trainer, Abel Sanchez, and embraced the Mexican and Mexican-American fans in Southern California who have adopted ?GGG? as their own.
Don?t be surprised if the T-Mobile Arena is split right down the middle between fans sporting the traditional red headbands cheering for Canelo, and the fans flashing their ?Mexicans for GGG? t-shirts and GGG hats in the red, white and green of the Mexican flag.
Both Golovkin and Alvarez respect boxing?s legacy, and approach their sport as a serious profession. They respect each other as well. Most important, they respect their fans and deliver quality competition. There is no faked animosity between the pair. Both aspire to win, both express the confidence to stop his opponent. But the only ?Big Drama Show? is inside the ring.
There is also the visible enjoyment from both Alvarez and Golovkin in their own skills in a sport they love. It translates to the fans who witness the excellence that only comes from hard work, no matter how much natural talent either man possesses. This is what makes boxing fun to watch.
It?s a true 50-50 fight, and while experts have differences of opinion about who will win, neither is an overwhelming favorite. It?s one of the many things to love about this bout. Both men are skilled power-punchers who bring the action. Neither one hesitates to deliver a knockout shot given the least opportunity. No one expects this fight to go the distance. It?s one of the reasons the bout sold out quickly, unlike the half-empty arena on hand for a retired boxer and a UFC fighter.
The pair have made the rounds of the boxing news media, done interview after interview and participated in advertising and preview shows. The highlight of their public appearances was a recent public workout for fans at the popular ?LA Live? entertainment complex in Southern California. Several thousand fans waited under hot summer sun for their champions to put on a show of skill and thank them for their support.
Photographer Mickey Bonilla of MB Sports Photography braved the crowds and the heat to bring Communities Digital News readers a photo gallery from the day?s activities. Click on each thumbnail to enjoy the photos in a full-size slide show.
