Gennady Golovkin vs. Saúl Álvarez - at last, IB's official RBR

I'm only 4 months late.

 

Gennady Golovkin vs. Saúl Álvarez, 12 rounds @ middleweight

(note: I watched the first half with BoxNation commentary and the second half with HBO, for whatever that's worth...)

 

Round 1

Álvarez is scoring with the jab, establishing a rhythm with it early. Golovkin tries countering with a 1-1-2 but ends up overshooting, just past Álvarez's shoulder. Golovkin looks to establish dominance with his own jab in singles and doubles but it keeps getting blocked, although it repeatedly pushes Álvarez's gloves into his own brow. Each man is cautious, gradually opening the output valve on their offense as they feel out their foe, but Álvarez is so far managing to outbox Golovkin.

10-9 Álvarez

 

Round 2

Golovkin is floating a jab-feint. Álvarez isn't feeling gullible, not even attempting to stand in and counter the phony jab. Álvarez keeps moving and paws his own abortive jab out in jittery quarter-way motions, then nervously looping a right hand around the guard while passing Golovkin. Power-jabs from Golovkin. Álvarez is backed up and hit with a big rabbit punch by Golovkin. Álvarez's counter jabs are being cue-balled away in midair by a brush-off parry off the arm. Some intense 1-2-3's now from Golovkin, who is slowing the pace down by lulling Álvarez in with some monotonous low-speed combos only to intensify and ratchet up the explosiveness mid-flow.

10-9 Golovkin, close

19-19

 

Round 3

Golovkin is whipping the counter left hook around the guard when Álvarez puts out his jab. Body fakes by Golovkin, with rapid slight leans to either side. Golovkin with straight combos on the face after resuming forward motion. Left hook on the body from Álvarez, nicely executed, bit of purchase on it momentarily slowing Golovkin. Álvarez is succumbing to pressure and changing his mind every time he seems to be stricken with the creativity bug or about to implement an idea offensively.

10-9 Golovkin

29-28 Golovkin

 

Round 4

Golovkin is just merrily slangin' those left hooks at chest height to punctuate the exchanges, looking very confident and daring Álvarez to exploit the hole it leaves in his defense. Álvarez is still trying his sneaky turbo-charged uppercut flourish to leave a lasting impression himself after each little melee (having enjoyed limited success with this late in round 3) but Golovkin is stuffing the uppercuts with the underside of his out-held left forearm, just lowering it like an iron rollercoaster seatbelt/overhead restraint. Álvarez kind of giving this one away, focusing on D and self-conscious of how deep a hole is already dug by the midway point, thus mostly sheathing his own arsenal for the most part outside a few cheeky pot shots he loads up on when turning Golovkin, not getting through but not really trying either.

10-9 Golovkin

39-37 Golovkin

 

Round 5

Álvarez is taking paddle-ball jabs on the face repeatedly by Golovkin, who is right atop him. Golovkin has Álvarez laid up on the ropes taking body shots, digging in with a calm, methodical workmanlike attitude. Lead left hook by Álvarez to create some friction and pry himself free. It works momentarily and Golovkin tries closing the distance with a flying lead uppercut. Álvarez blocks. Once up close again, Golovkin is scoring with the jab. Nice back-foot counter right hand by Álvarez. Slick movement by Álvarez, playing with fire and pulling himself clear of harm's way at the last second as he looks to bait & counter Golovkin. Unfortunately for him, Golovkin's timing is very good and the latter connects on a big right hand. Álvarez slips a slew of jabs, but is shushed into submission, not daring to set himself to fire anything back. Good defense, just no opportunities to capitalize. Álvarez flurries his way off the ropes, just window-dressing. Strapping right hand across the upper jaw in pursuit by Golovkin.

10-9 Golovkin

49-46 Golovkin

 

Round 6

Golovkin is getting a little wild here from the outset, inexplicably, having looked fresh enough at the end of the fifth and then having a minute's rest. Álvarez with some very nice digs on the body, planting his feet to add torque. Álvarez out-thinking Golovkin, and lands a looping right hand as Golovkin milks an invisible cow strung by its hooves up between them. Álvarez making Golovkin swing and miss with almost comic exaggeration. Álvarez in a clinch even has the presence of mind to put one hand behind his back and pop Golovkin on the peepers with the padding by his pinky knuckle. Golovkin looks enraged and humiliated by this, and uncomfortable in general for the whole frame. Excellent defense by Álvarez throughout, meanwhile.

10-9 Álvarez

58-56 Golovkin

 

Harold Lederman has it 58-56 Golovkin at this point as well albeit not via the same route as my own (reached watching a different broadcast with different angles with different commentary and without knowing his score in the 1st half); giving Álvarez the second and third.

 

Round 7

Álvarez is doubling his jab and freewheeling to his left. Golovkin is marching him down, swinging his arms by his sides to keep the circulation flowing. Golovkin letting combinations go from mid-range on the front-foot, tickling Álvarez's face or at the very least brushing aside the Álvarez jab and stifling any combos he tries leaving in Golovkin's path like caltrops. Golovkin is landing the jab on the ginger beard at will. Just missing with the right cross. Golovkin now aping the Philly shell himself, making Álvarez's punches skid up his left bicep.

10-9 Golovkin

68-65 Golovkin

 

Lederman now has it 68-65 GGG.

 

Round 8

Álvarez is flurrying past the jab while backing up. Golovkin is sweeping Álvarez's gloves to one side with a throw-away hook and firing a -2 down the pipe. Nice counter right hand lead by Álvarez. Golovkin is zigzagging inside, making Álvarez miss the uppercut and spoiling the intricate trap he just finished setting by leaving his lead foot dangling askew in a bad position (only to pivot at the last second, demonstrating perfect mastery of balance and throwing his uppercut with bad intentions and near-perfect aim, timing just a half-beat off). Golovkin is walking Álvarez down, tagging his neckline and shoulders with alternating jabs and lead rights. Álvarez keeping his arms down and skipping in reverse gear.

10-9 Golovkin

78-74 Golovkin

 

Lederman now has it 78-74 Golovkin

 

Round 9

Golovkin is hammering the guard of Álvarez with the heavy jab now. Álvarez is shoring up his strength, feet scuffing along the canvas as he gives up ground to Golovkin. A few abrupt ferocious left bolos and jab/hook mash-ups by Álvarez to buy himself some breathing room, but Golovkin inexorably stays on him. Uppercut feint by Golovkin, pulled at the last second when a momentary gullible Álvarez takes his bait and leans straight back into a corner, where Golovkin is able to skewer him with a straight combo.

10-9 Golovkin, big round.

88-83 Golovkin

 

Lederman now has it 88-83 Golovkin.