Alvarez v Golovkin III: Mexican favourite to settle long-running feud
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Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez steps back down to super-middleweight to defend his status as undisputed champion against Gennady Golovkin in a trilogy fight on Saturday as we take a look at the Alvarez v Golovkin odds.
Alvarez (57-2-2, 39KOs) remains the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO champion at 168lbs despite being outpointed by Russia’s Dmitry Bivol earlier this month when venturing up to light-heavyweight.
The Mexican has decided against an immediate rematch and will instead look to settle a long-running feud against Golovkin, the WBA and IBF middleweight champion who will be moving up a division.
One more week 🔜 #CaneloGGG3 live on https://t.co/cttCbHlwVI, Sept 17 pic.twitter.com/nTEI1vlXZa
— Canelo Alvarez (@Canelo) September 10, 2022
Many thought Golovkin won their opening bout in September 2017 only for a draw to be declared while Alvarez claimed a narrow points decision 12 months later, with both contests held at middleweight.
Alvarez is the overwhelming 2/9 favourite for the fight with Golovkin at 7/2 while another draw or technical draw is quoted at 20/1.
“I feel very happy and proud to be able to give the best fights and this fight won’t be an exception,” said Alvarez.
The venue for the third fight will again be the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, which staged the first two showdowns.
“The Canelo v GGG trilogy is the biggest fight in boxing and I am delighted to get this made for September 17,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “These are two men that bitterly dislike each other and want to end this incredible series with a blistering KO.
Fight week! 💥
Coming 🔜⁰⁰#caneloGGG3 on https://t.co/wP4wIpVIZY, Sept 17 @DAZNBoxing pic.twitter.com/B6zlBlBol1
— Gennadiy Golovkin (@GGGBoxing) September 12, 2022
“I truly believe this will be the most thrilling fight between these two great champions and it will be fireworks from the first bell to the last man standing.”
The heavy-handed Golovkin (42-1-1, 37KOs), who at 40 is eight years older, has won all four fights since suffering the only defeat of his professional career against Alvarez.
Golovkin, who stopped Japan’s Ryota Murata inside nine rounds in April to become unified world middleweight champion again, said simply: “I hope to see you on September 17.”
He weathered an early onslaught from Murata to stop the Japanese in Saitama.
Golovkin took some heavy shots early on but started to turn the tide around the halfway point, knocking out his rival’s gumshield in the sixth with a bruising right hook.
The Kazakh’s punishing counter right hand stopped Murata in his tracks in the ninth and he fell to the floor as Golovkin swung a wild left haymaker before the towel came in as the referee began the count.
It ended nearly 16 months of inactivity for Golovkin – the contest was supposed to take place in December only to be shelved due to coronavirus restrictions – but the Kazakh was unfazed by the delay.
🗣'I think this will be the best of the three…without a doubt.'@Canelo knows this fight means EVERYTHING 🍿#CaneloGGG3 pic.twitter.com/XHDQwi7RUf
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) September 12, 2022
Retirement is still a long way off for Golovkin, who believes the wisdom he has accrued during his time in the sport is just as important as his spiteful power-punching, supreme stamina and granite chin.
“There are advantages and drawbacks that come with age,” Golovkin said. “I see all the changes as positive. I get smarter, I get more experienced and age gives me an additional edge.
“Time flies and the older you get the faster it goes. I continue to stick to my traditional training approach and when we get in the ring, we’ll see the results.
“I wouldn’t point out any particular goal that I’m still trying to achieve. I’ve achieved a lot and learned a lot during my career. I feel very comfortable in my current position.
“I’ve been in boxing pretty much throughout my entire life. I feel in top form and if there is demand, if there are interesting offers, you’ll continue to see me in the ring.”
It is 8/13 for the fight to go the distance in the Alvarez v Golovkin odds, while Alvarez to win by decision or technical decision is 1/1 with Golovkin 7/1 for the same outcome.
All odds and markets correct at date of publication
