Canelo by T/KO to get his first legitimate win over, what is now, a Luis Ortiz level of geriatric GGG.
Fight picks TOM GRAY: CANELO TKO 10 “By the time a trilogy bout comes around, one fighter is usually in a better place than the other. Ali was in a better place than Frazier. Gatti was in a better place than Ward. Pacquiao was in a better place than Morales. For my money, despite coming off a loss, Canelo is in a better place than GGG. The Mexican star is younger, bigger and faster. I think Canelo gets a late stoppage after punishing his rival throughout.” ANSON WAINWRIGHT: CANELO TKO 10 “They’ve shared 24 rounds together and in some people’s eyes Golovkin is 2-0, not 0-1-1. I personally felt Golovkin deserved the nod in the first fight, but the second was very close and could have been a draw. However, the second fight was four years ago. I still feel it will take a heck of a fighter to beat GGG, but he’s 40, past his athletic peak and he’s facing a younger, better version of Canelo this time. The Mexican is supremely motivated after losing to Bivol, and his dislike for GGG will drive him and bring out that extra fire. I expect Canelo and Golovkin to treat us to another outstanding battle. Both will have moments but I feel Canelo will break Golovkin down and stop him in 10 rounds.” LEE GROVES: CANELO UD “Alvarez’s loss to Bivol and GGG’s triumph of Murata add a level of intrigue this match didn’t have when it was originally announced. While some see this as a potential Holmes-Ali scenario of primed champion against aged and decrepit former champion, I believe this fight can be competitive. First, GGG is capable of generating far higher volume than Alvarez, who is notoriously selective with his punches. Second, Golovkin still has one of the best jabs in the sport in terms of connect frequency and accuracy, and he proved in both previous fights that he can land it on Canelo. Finally, GGG has yet to be floored in 350 amateur fights and 44 professional bouts, and because Canelo’s KOs are more the product of attrition, I think this fight will go all the way.” MARTY MULCAHEY: CANELO UD “I believe Gennadiy Golovkin won the first meeting against Saul Alvarez, and that a draw would have been the best result in the rematch. I also picked GGG to win both fights. Not this time, as Golovkin has aged worse than Canelo and let’s not forget Golovkin is now 40! The first four rounds will be competitive and a jabbing contest Golovkin edges. After that, Canelo takes over and push Golovkin backwards with his usual array of hooks combined with steady bodywork. It takes its toll as Golovkin fades in the championship rounds, where Alvarez earns a points decision by scores around 116-112.” RON BORGES: CANELO PTS “GGG is a highly skilled, well respected former champion nearing the end of a great career. Canelo is coming off a surprisingly one-sided defeat and back down from a weight he proved not the equal to. Point being, there are questions on both sides. So, who wins such a matchup? History says don’t bet against youth and Canelo has that on his side. He is also in with a familiar opponent against whom he is 1-0-1. Many believe he didn’t win either. I’m not one of them. He won a close decision once and will do so this time but the margin will be clearer. The calendar is undefeated. This time GGG learns that sad fact of athletic life.” NORM FRAUENHEIM: CANELO UD “On the calendar, this fight is past due. On the clock, Gennadiy Golovkin is past his prime. The timing appears to be perfect in almost every way for Canelo to make a decisive statement in his first fight since losing to Dmitry Bivol at light heavyweight. Canelo is back at what is now his natural weight. Defeat is also an opportunity to re-awaken the motivation and the student in Canelo, who never quit learning in his ascent to stardom before Bivol. But timing can deliver the unpredictable, especially against a proud fighter with GGG’s credentials. GGG wouldn’t be the first 40-year-old to turn back the clock. Don’t be surprised if the younger version of the great middleweight shows up late. The question is how Canelo reacts when he does. Guess here: Canelo will have just enough energy to protect a scorecard lead in a decision that ends the controversy and the rivalry.” DIEGO MORILLA: CANELO PTS “It was a close affair when they first fought (I had GGG two points ahead from ringside, but I saw some of the wildest and most divergent scorecards ever from my colleagues), and it was just as close in the rematch, when a few more people were convinced that Canelo got it right (or at least considerably better than in the first fight). Their third encounter will be equally close, and Canelo will prevail once again. What could make this fight more interesting is that Golovkin could really go for it instead of trying to earn Canelo’s and the judge’s respect with a display of boxing skills. But Golovkin’s age and the fact that he’ll be fighting at 168 pounds virtually for the first time will make this an impossible task for the all-time great Kazak knockout artist.”
