Canelo vs. Golovkin : So Who Really Won?

Photo Credit: Tom Hogan/Hogan Photos/Golden Boy Promotions

The dust has settled following the highly-anticipated 160-pound world title bout this past Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada and the buzz continues over the controversial ending to the match-up. Thanks to the quality of fighters in the headliner as well as the main card a record-setting crowd of over 22,000 packed the arena in hopes of seeing a memorable night of boxing. They got just that in the form of fireworks, back-and-forth action, and hard shots being landed and taken by both men as well as some solid jabs, feints and pure boxing. Everything a fight fan could ask for and more; more coming in the way of a split decision draw since one judge had it 118-110 for Canelo Alvarez, the next 115-113 for Gennady Golovkin and the final judge seeing it 114-114. Everyone has an opinion and can voice it even more in today’s world therefore the Internet is on fire right now thanks to the questionable outcome. Here are the main points that some fans across boxing social media are formulating as weapons to defend their fighter and their argument:

Alvarez Based on Defense and Technique
For the people that said Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (49-1-1) won the general argument is based on his defense. Those individuals felt he made his man miss throughout the entire fight; especially when he baited him along the ropes where Alvarez had great success rolling with punches, slipping and using great upper body movement along the way to avoid his foe’s heavy handed shots. The highlights in those moments were even more evident for the pro-Canelo fans who point to “GGG” hitting air or slapping the top rope with his overhand right numerous times, missing wide as Canelo turned and circled out to his own left. Alvarez even purposely backed up into the ring corner boldly taunting the dangerous Golovkin to come at him in the very place critics said Canelo would get seriously hurt or even KO’d.

On the inside when they touched foreheads and made it a phone booth battle the Alvarez faithful point to “Triple G” eating some mean uppercuts as well as solid left hooks from Canelo; giving their man the edge on the inside. The Jalisco, Mexico native not shying away from attacking the liver of Golovkin gave some good insight into Canelo’s ability to vary punches and slow his opponent’s attack down. Gennady could visibly be seen for the first in his illustrious career to be wincing from the Mexican icon’s body work.

PHOTO CREDIT: Tom Hogan – Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions

Golovkin Based on Offense and Pressure

For the people that argue that Gennady Golovkin (37-0-1) should not have a “1” in the draw column of his ledger it is simply due to his relentless offense. The pride of Kazakhstan marched forward at an otherworldly pace regardless of how many shots to the face and head he ate like Skittles candy. The man known as “GGG”, had AAA+ conditioning and some say that he fought at a continuous flow while Alvarez mainly fought in spurts. “Mexican Style” Golovkin battled at a great pace in the first half of the middleweight world title fight then doubled his intensity in the second half. Whether he personally felt he was winning or losing, Golovkin rarely took the foot off of the gas. His fans applaud that he did not coast in those critical championship rounds as well as walked through Canelo’s power shots.

Allot of people questioned Golovkin’s supposed granite chin coming into the fight and it proved to match his granite fists. The undefeated warrior can give it as good as he can take it and his followers are praising him for knowing how to box so well against a top Mexican fighter. He also tussled smartly and did not make many mistakes when his opponent taunted him to fight at close range along the ropes. Gennady’s jab remained his primary range finder as he walked Alvarez down; something that you do not see very often, if at all.

In the end, the magic and thrill about any boxing event is that you can argue all outcome until the cows come home. Which in it of itself highlights how convenient and direct things are when there is a knockout or TKO finish, the purest of results. Following a points verdict anyone can contend for their guy or gal, and make some very interesting points via rose-colored glasses. You see what you want to see and will debate tooth and nail in order to somehow convince the person to think what you are thinking.

One fan can negatively view that a fighter was, “running all night and was scared” while the person favoring that fighter will proclaim, “he/she was very tactical and never got hit significantly”. Or, you’ll get the dispute of, “you don’t get points for taking a solid punch, it’s about hitting and not getting hit” which will get countered by, “my fighter came to fight and marched forward, they made it fun and entertaining to watch”.

In the growing debate now that is: who won the fight, we fight fans are actually all winners. In boxing it sometimes doesn’t matter who really won but, more that we do not feel like losers for spending our hard earned money tuning in or valuable time showing up.