The previous two fights between Canelo and Golovkin: highlights and important moments

As we prepare for the third fight between two legends of boxing, we take a look back at their previous two meetings, in the hope of pin-pointing the key moments and just what might be the difference this time around.

Canelo Álvarez vs Gennady Golovkin 1

The first battle between Canelo Álvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin took place on 16 September 2017. By all accounts, a thrilling bout in which a high technical level of boxing was showcased by two boxers at the peak of their powers. If there was any doubt about the intensity of the rivalry between the two, it was definitely laid to rest that night as the match went the distance and was ultimately deemed a split draw. A decision which to this day is met with a great deal of controversy and debate.

How did the fight go?

Officially, the fight was scored as follows between the three judges on that night five years ago. Dave Moretti saw it as 115–113 for Golovkin, Adalaide Byrd scored it 118–110 in favor of Álvarez and Don Trella cut it down the middle with 114–114. Needless to say, there are a lot who take issue with that result. Yet it’s worth noting that to the casual eye the fight was actually quite even, with both fighters enjoying rounds of dominance.

The first round went as expected, with both men getting a feel for the other. In round 2, GGG began to showcase his classy jab and with that, Canelo realized he would not have his own way in this fight. To the third we went and it was here that Canelo attempted to mix things up, working between head and body. Round 4 was definitely all about Golovkin. The Kazakhstani fighter dominated Canelo and was able to land multiple shots. In round 5, it became clear that Golovkin was in control. While he was not necessarily hurting Canelo, he was most definitely in control of the fight as they approached the halfway mark of the bout. In round 6, Canelo tried to push back, but with little success as Golovkin continued to grow in confidence. Rounds 7 and 8 were mirrors of each other, in that Canelo understood he needed to do more, but was simply unable to do so. By the time we rolled around to round 9, Canelo’s apparent strategy of waiting for Golovkin to fade seemed to be coming apart. Indeed, the Mexican just couldn’t put Golovkin down. To that end, the 10th and 11th went a similar route, with Golovkin staying with Canelo toe for toe. Ultimately, round 12 was the showpiece round of the fight with both men fighting intensely, but ultimately there is no knock down and the bell goes. As we now know, the fight was called a draw. Was it the right decision? While the jury is still out on that one, their next meeting would go even further in terms of controversy.

Canelo Álvarez vs Gennady Golovkin 2

Just a year after their intense first fight, Canelo Álvarez and Gennady Golovkin stepped into the ring once again. This time, with the Mexican eager to dismiss any doubts about who the better fighter is, fans knew they were going to be in for a treat. What they couldn’t have expected was that the fight would generate just as much controversy as the last time the pair met, if not more. In the end, it was Canelo who got the win courtesy of a unanimous decision on the scorecards, but rest assured there were many who didn’t see it that way on the night.

How did the fight go?

On that night back in 2018, the official score was 115-113 on two cards in favor of Canelo, while the third and final judge scored it at 114-114 apiece. What’s interesting to note is that on analytics, Golovkin landed more than Canelo in general, though Álvarez edged him on power and body shots. Indeed, the Mexican looked way better than he did in their first fight. It should be mentioned, of course, that analytics rarely align with the traditional round-by-round scoring system, but it does raise an eyebrow when considering that the judges had less than one round between the pair i.e., if you won a fight on a scorecard by two rounds, one round going the opponent’s way would make it a draw.

As for the rounds themselves, it was clear that Canelo intended to stamp his authority on the fight from the moment the bell rang. In round 1 and 2 the Mexican showed he would not be walked down as in the first fight and in turn took more risks. In round 3, Golovkin began to grind his way back into the fight as he relied on that formidable jab which he showcased in their initial meeting. By round 4 the fight had become more even, but Canelo, it has to be said, was still in control. In round 5 we saw Golovkin looking like a man who understood the challenge. Though Canelo clearly had more to give, the Kazakhstani was landing the better shots. At the halfway point in round 6 Canelo went to work on the body and it paid dividends as Golovkin began to slow down. With round 7 being relatively even, it was round 8 that drew attention when Golovkin, with an apparent second wind, began to up the pace on the Mexican, something he seemed unable to match. As if on cue, Canelo returned to his body shot strategy in round 9 and again it paid dividends. Likely the round that was the difference, Golovkin is the aggressor, but Canelo takes the round. In what is perhaps the critical moment, Golovkin took round 11, meaning Canelo would have to come big in the 12th. Never one to back down, the Mexican responded with an epic finish and with that got the win.

What now for Canelo Álvarez and Gennady Golovkin?

Given the close nature of their first two fights, there is every reason to believe that we are in for one heck of a show. On the other hand, it must be said that some time has passed and the context that either fighter is coming from will likely play a huge role in how they approach this bout. Canelo is not long removed from only the second loss of his career, while Golovkin has just come from winning. There is no love lost between these two and with the controversy surrounding their previous fights, that’s not likely to change anytime soon. With that, be sure to join us this weekend as we build up to what is set to be an epic fight.