GGG-Canelo 2 Fight Analysis
By Ralph Rimpell
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 15 Sep 2018
In exactly one year and one day since the first match between World middleweight champion Gennady ?GGG? Golovkin (38-0-1,34KOs) and former middleweight and junior middleweight champion Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez (49-1-2, 34KOs) will once again face each other to decide who the better fighter is. Last September 16, 2017, the two fought a the T-Mobile arena in Las Vegas to a controversial draw that most in attendance, those who watched on Pay Per View (PPV), an others watching around the world thought Golovkin had won.
The fight that many expected did not materialize, a ?toe to toe brawl?. Golovkin is a feared fighter who moves forward and systematically breaks down his opponents. Canelo is an exciting Mexican fighter who also moves forward and systematically breaks down his opponents as well. On fight night fans saw a cautious Canelo who boxed, use defense, and basically fought ?toe to toe? in small spurts during the fight. It was more Golovkin trying to press the fighting action and being the aggressor. When the rematch was finally announced, some of this writers' fight colleagues passed on covering the rematch citing they believe the rematch will mirror the first fight. Perhaps they are correct in their assessment and perhaps they are not. Two major factors have happened since the first match.
The rematch would have happened sooner except Canelo tested positive for Clenbuterol, a performance enhancing drug (PED). Canelo was summoned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for a hearing. In his defense he attributed the positive test result to tainted beef he had consumed in Mexico. This caused the Golovkin and Canelo rematch scheduled for May 5, 2018 to be cancelled because he was suspended from boxing. In the interim, Golovkin not wanting to be inactive fought on May 5, 2018 and defeated Vanes Martirosyan.
The second factor is, according to USA Today, Golovkin did not believe the positive test for PEDs was from tainted meat. Canelo and his camp maintain that they have always tested negative for PEDs and he is a clean fighter. Insults have gone back and forth between both camps and it appears that this is a genuine grudge match. Canelo has stated he will knock out Golovkin in the rematch. The Golovkin camp has said Canelo is a disgrace to boxing. So what can we expect on fight night at the sound of the opening bell from Golovkin?
Those of us who follow Golovkin?s career know how he fights. He comes forward cautiously and puts combinations together with ?bad intentions?. He has good defense and does not come in recklessly. Look for Golovkin to fight very similar to how he fought Canelo the first time, but he will no doubt focus on cutting the ring off to corner and land more shots should Canelo choose to be more of boxer then a Mexican brawler. Golovkin appears to have lost a step evidenced by his fight against Daniel Jacobs on March 18, 2017, but is still a very dangerous champion which is likely why Canelo fought him how he did.
What does Canelo have to do to ensure victory?
Canelo has to come out and make a statement by earning Golovkin?s respect early with good punching power. He won?t be able to do that by trying to play the elusive boxer against Golovkin. No, he can?t stand there ?toe to toe? for the full fight. He has to move to evade Golovkin?s punches, but there will be times during the fight where he has to stand ?toe to toe? and fight with Golovkin if he expects to knock him out as he has said he will. If he is unable to knock out Golovkin he has to at least outfight him so as to earn a decision victory. This writer envisions a very exciting fight for the first 4 rounds fueled by bad blood, then a very similar fight to the first fight rounds 5-12. In the end Golovkin will impose his will on Canelo. Golovkin by split decision victory.
Boxing Notes: Multi division champ Mikey Garcia called IBF 147lbs champ Errol Spence Jr. for the second time on July 28, 2018 after his last fight. The boxing world was on the edge of their seats waiting for the official fight announcement for this blockbuster PPV fight after it appeared Spence had accepted Garcia?s bold challenge. It?s been almost 2months and there has been NO NEWS and NO KNOWN negotiations??Mikey Garcia then said he would like to fight the winner of Porter-(Danny) Garcia WBC welterweight title fight at Barclay?s in Brooklyn last week. The winner and new WBC Champ Shawn Porter appears to have accepted IBF Errol Spence?s challenge to fight right after he was declared the victor. Let?s hope these two fight??An announcement that undefeated WBC heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder is to fight undefeated heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is pending. This will be Wilder toughest challenge. Can?t wait to see that one!.....Attention P4P writers: On August 29, 2018 Waheng Menayothin improved his boxing record to 51-0, 18KOs and successfully defended his WBC mini-Flyweight title. My dear colleagues it?s a crime to leave him off your P4P list!??Finally for boxing fans of the hit show ?Power? on the STARZ network, Power is stronger than ever going out with a Bang the last 4 episodes! Good work to all involved with the series. Can?t wait until season six!
Contact Writer: RLuvsboxing@aol.com
***Ralph Rimpell is a writer based out of New York and is a Boxing Correspondent for Philboxing.com. Ralph holds an undergraduate degree from City University of New York. He has been a Boxing Writer for over ten years having written for several top boxing websites on the World Wide Web. Before becoming a writer, Ralph's passion was for professional wrestling until he realized professional wrestling was entertainment and not a real sport. It was at that time the 1984 US Olympic team made up of future stars such as Evander Holyfield, Meldrick Taylor, Pernell Whitaker, etc. entered the professional ranks and signed with promotional outfit Main Events.It was also at that time a young exciting Heavyweight originally hailing from Brooklyn named Mike Tyson also turned professional and became the face of boxing. Young boxing fan Ralph just couldn't get enough of boxing as a large part of it was being broadcast on "free TV". As time went on, Ralph felt boxing writers were not being forthcoming with their boxing coverage, opinion pieces, interviews, etc. So Ralph decided to write an article and submitted it to a Boxing website thinking it would be deleted and ignored by the Editor. To Ralph's surprise his article was posted on their website and the readers embraced it. The rest is history.
"I thank God for the Internet because it has created opportunities for writers like myself who likely would not have been given an opportunity to write for print publications. I hope someday soon to expand my role in Boxing on different levels." -- Ralph Rimpell
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ralph Rimpell.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
SPORTS SHORTS 285: AMIR KHAN ACCEPTS OFFER FOR AN EXHIBITION MATCH WITH MANNY PACQUIAO
By Maloney L. Samaco, Mon, 25 Nov 2024FOGOUM, TOSHIHIKO, KIM, RATTAWUT, RUF, CHUTINAN IN ACTION IN HIGHLAND’S EXCITING “SHOWDOWN” NOV 28 AT SPACEPLUS IN BANGKOK, THAILAND
By Carlos Costa, Mon, 25 Nov 2024Gil Robiego Co Elected New APPBRO President for 2025-2027
By Carlos Costa, Mon, 25 Nov 2024Garma wins, climbs to 8th place
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 25 Nov 2024Davao futsal scores 1st win
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 25 Nov 2024Filipino FIDE Master Mario Mangubat is the new FIDE World Senior 65 over category Rapid Champion
Sun, 24 Nov 2024Thunderdome 48 - Jude Grant vs Fano Kori
Sun, 24 Nov 2024World Boxing backs plan to create a new Confederation in Asia
Sun, 24 Nov 2024The message is clear – Asian Boxing Confederation remains united with the IBA
Sun, 24 Nov 2024OSCAR DE LA HOYA FOUNDATION HOSTS 25TH ANNUAL TURKEY GIVEAWAY FOR EAST LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY
Sun, 24 Nov 2024Life vs. Death: The Ultimate Ringside Showdown Immortalized in Pierce Egan’s Boxiana
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sat, 23 Nov 2024SPORTS SHORTS 284: TEAM MARK MAGSAYO CONFIRMS RETURN TO THE RING ON DECEMBER 14
By Maloney L. Samaco, Sat, 23 Nov 2024RJP Boxing promotes in Bucana on Dec. 17
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 23 Nov 2024Good Prospects at Minimumweight, Light Fly, Super Bantam and Super Feather in 2025
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sat, 23 Nov 2024Filipino International Master Chito Danilo Garma is the new World Senior Blitz champion; Filipino FIDE Master Mario Mangubat takes the bronze medal
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 23 Nov 2024