The formalities are complete. After months of hype and preparation the fight is on !
Kazakhstan’s Gennadiy ‘GGG’ Golovkin scaled 167.8lbs and Mexican Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez 167.4lbs in the blistering heat before a boisterous Mexican Independence Day crowd lunchtime today, just outside the Las Vegas venue for tomorrow’s big unification fight.
Both fighters comfortably made the 168lbs (12st) limit for the right to be the super-middleweight champion of the world. The Ring magazine, WBC, IBF, WBO & WBA titles will be on the line. But, more importantly, the right to be called the best of their era amongst the mid-weights.
The most telling soundbites from the post weigh-in interviews were from Golovkin. Suitably pissed by Canelo continuing to play mind games and leaving him shirtless for five minutes before arriving to weigh-in, the Kazakh initially offered “No comment” but after wishing the Mexican fans a happy independence week said “Everyone who loves boxing knows who the real champion is”. This points to a disgust at the previous decisions he’s had against the same foe and more likely Canelo’s Clenbuturol incident between their two previous meetings, having tested positive and receiving a six month ban. Golovkin comes into this fight a bitter, but supremely motivated man. For anyone that’s a dangerous cocktail.
After the final intense face-off before hostilities recommence in 36 hours time Canelo continued his line on preparing to win by stoppage. He acknowledged the phenomenal support from his Mexican fans, which numbered close to 2,000 and stayed for some time on the dais posing with his belts. Golovkin left immediately.
The key now will be on rehydration and who will benefit most over the next 24 hours. The man going up in weight (GGG) or the one dropping down (Canelo).
The trilogy fight between the two is the hottest ticket in town and streaming site DAZN are expected to cash in with a late big buy up for their pay-per-view showing. Promoters Matchroom believed this fight ‘had legs’ even though most boxing experts have continually written off the 40 year old Kazakh. They’ve thrown all their resources over a number of months to make this an event to remember and early indications promise it to be the case.
There are eight fights on the card with the pick being a second title defence by Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez (16-0, 11 KO’s) of his WBC world super-flyweight (115lbs) belt. The improving, undefeated champion from San Antonio, Texas meets Israel Gonzalez (28-4-1, 11 KO’s) who’s attempting to win a version of the title at his fourth attempt.
More news and our fight predictions to follow tomorrow.
The Undisputed 