Alvarez is a 5-to-1 underdog with a margin of 152 to 84 in landed punches. This doesn’t bode very well for him. Bivol is more confident and better prepared, so the rematch clause in Saturday’s immediate aftermath should be the last option Eddie Hearn suggests Sunday.
This is especially true when you consider that a Golovkin Trilogy was also drawn up by the parties earlier in the year.
Now that the interim business has been completed, they can go into the air reserved only for the most well-known pairs of the sport and be guaranteed to be mentioned on their respective Hall of Fame plaques.
Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali, heavyweights, laid the foundation for their respective legends. Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran’s three apocalyptic fights in 2001 and 2003 were 13 months long. Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez, fought four times in each of three weight divisions in 2004 and 2005.
It’s impossible to imagine the past without thinking of the future.
When it comes down to this one, what rivalry is complete without some heat?
Golovkin is keenly aware of the standings with his high-profile nemesis and expressed frustration in a chat with Bleacher Report that his own prodigious accomplishments–holding a title every year since 2011, stopping 15 straight foes in title fights, etc.–were overshadowed by the first two bouts.
He said that he doesn’t believe that Canelo Alvarez’s rivalry is the only thing that defines my career. “Just to be clear, I hold the record for defenses with 21 defenses. I have the most knockouts. And I believe that people will remember me for this.
“There are people for whom it would be more important.”
Matter a lot? Perhaps.
Do you care more? No chance.
Despite the defeats of Kellbrook (TKO 5), Daniel Jacobs (12 UD 12) and David Lemieux (8 TKO 8) being menacing and compelling, they did not draw the attention of Alvarez. Golovkin will be forever second to Ali after three fights, and Tommy Hearns with Ray Leonard after two.
Frazier and Hearns certainly had their moments, but the moments of their rivals were more frequent and more memorable. This gave them a permanent win on the perception scorecard.
Bleacher Report: “It’s vital necessity for Triple G,” ex-HBO blow-by-blow man Jim Lampley said. He called many of the fights on the network. “And because there won’t even be a fourth fight, this rivalry will either end in a standoff or victory for Canelo.”
This may seem unfair to Hall-worthy competitors.
When it comes to fighting, you are last.
Canelo vs GGG 3 Undercard Fights
- Canelo Alvarez (c) vs. Gennadiy Golovkin for the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring super-middleweight titles
- Jesse Rodriguez (c) vs. Israel Gonzalez for the WBC super-flyweight title
- Diego Pacheco vs. Enrique Collazo for the WBC USNBC Silver super-middleweight title
- Ali Akhmedov vs Gabe Rosado for the IBF North American super-middleweight title
- Austin Williams vs. Kieron Conway for the WBA International middleweight title
