Canelo vs. Golovkin : 10 Simple Reasons To Tune In

PHOTO CREDIT: Tom Hogan – Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions

As a kid growing up one of my favorite TV shows to watch was, “Late Night with David Letterman” which then became, “Late Show with David Letterman” in august of 1993. This variety series had a little bit of everything thanks to its format of news, satire and entertainment with a splash of comedy. A recurring segment on the program was the “Top Ten List” and I find it appropriate to pay tribute to that great show with a similar list for the solid HBO “Supremacy” PPV event this weekend from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. This Saturday undefeated Gennady Golovkin puts his unbeaten streak and multiple world titles on the line against Mexican superstar, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

Sure, we just got over the hump last month of a Showtime card deemed to be a “big deal” but, this HBO boxing event is the real deal.
Without further ado here is Drama Show: Top Ten Reasons Canelo vs. Golovkin Will Deliver.

Foto por Jorge Najera

10. De La Hoya’s Guarantee
Maybe he didn’t stamp it across the official event poster nonetheless, Golden Boy Promotions boss, Oscar De La Hoya, has stated in interviews that he doesn’t see the Supremacy main event going the distance. The Californian even said it would end in-between the 6th and 8th round. Not only is this a bold claim but, it’s a rare time when the former Olympian has given that precise of a prediction.

9. Star Power
The pay per view start time was moved up an hour early so that it would not clash with the laundry list of headlining shows on the Vegas Strip performing later that evening. An even longer than usual bunch due to the holiday weekend. You know a boxing card is legitimate if powerhouse brokers, Hollywood elite and professional athletes don’t want to miss it.

8. Supply and Demand
The sport of boxing has had some great shows, some amazing fights and of course a few let downs as of late. Many would agree that this contest is the shot of adrenaline that it needs to piggy-back perfectly off of the momentum this year in great matches like Frampton vs. Santa Cruz 2, Danny Garcia vs. Keith Thurman, Brook vs. Errol Spence Jr and Joshua vs. Klitchsko. The best fighting the best when it matters, not 6 years down the road with the inevitable let down to follow.

7. Two Top Fighters in Their Prime
Gennady Golovkin (37-0) has yet to lose and Saul Canelo’s (49-1-1) sole blemish came at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr (50-0) in 2013. To your average aficionado, that defeat seems almost irrelevant at this point making the two warriors on Saturday perceived as unbeaten. Neither has been seriously hurt in fights. Neither has seen the canvas. Both are healthy and injury free-what more can we ask for?

6. A Pair of Trains Colliding
If you watch their matches closely these guys don’t bother taking many steps backwards. Both combatants have similar come-forward styles when on the offensive. Golovkin’s steps are measured and calculated while Canelo’s flat-footed movement is masked by an increasing number of combinations and body work. Combine the two game plans and this makes for guaranteed fireworks.

5. Lineal Relevance
Similar to when Thomas Hearns, Ray Leonard, Oscar De La Hoya and other living legends moved up multiple weights to 160lbs against the best to truly test themselves and be etched in the history books, Canelo is making no excuses on his quest for similar boxing immortality. His Kazakhstan adversary proudly stands in Alvarez’ way in order to secure his legacy via every respected belt available in the division. In a world where there are countless Emeritus, Silver, Interim, Continental Americas and useless money belts abound, it’s wonderful to get a clear-cut, undisputed titleholder for a change.

4. Middleweight Supremacy
This one is a triumph for all fans be it hardcore or novice due to the aforementioned cloudiness in the sport. Too many belts, too many sanctioning bodies, too much clutter. The HBO PPV headliner is for the Mexican icon’s Lineal and Ring Magazine titles and “Mexican Style” Golovkin’s WBC, WBA, IBF and IBO straps. Thus the winner is undoubtedly and unquestionably the man at 160-pounds.

3. Evenly Matched Championship Affair
When the middleweight bout was officially announced for HBO pay-per-view, Canelo Alvarez opened as a +145 betting underdog making his rival -165. That’s as close to a 50/50 line as there has been in a world title unification fight in quite some time. So much so that the money pouring in on Canelo on fight week forced the MGM Grand casino to cap bets on Alvarez at $1,000.00.
(A higher limit granted only to MLife rewards player card members; strategically muscling out all of the out of town money.)

2. Big Drama Show, Not Circus Show
When the “circus fight” came to Las Vegas last month it did so behind roaring speed and with absolutely no shame in the giant cash grab that it was. That late August night was officially promoted for 3 months thanks to a major tour and Showtime’s unparalleled media magic. It came and it went. In comparison the “Supremacy” PPV has been adequately marinated for about 2 years, building to a fever pitch, as both men got better and their star’s grew, coming together to sizzle at the most opportune time.

1. Boxing in September
The Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin PPV card carries on the rich boxing tradition of massive events in the fall. It’s the big championship fight on Mexican Independence Day weekend; enough said.

All fans know that this show is not the money fight, it’s a fight that’s simply, money.