Canelo-Golovkin 3 completed a trilogy that was a vivid
demonstration of the life cycles of a boxer. On one side of Saturday's matchup
stood the warrior in winter, Gennadiy Golovkin, 40, unable to pull the trigger
for the most of the fight, lacking confidence to throw punches with conviction.
His opponent, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, was unquestionably better and a
deserving victor on the night (he won by unanimous decision), but even he, at
32 and with 62 professional fights, looks to be in transition from the summer
phase of his career to his autumn.
When
Canelo and Golovkin first fought in 2017, many in boxing were legitimately
concerned for Canelo's well-being. At the time, Golovkin was perhaps the
sport's supreme bogeyman. Although most believe that Canelo didn't deserve a
draw in that fight, he did far more than survive, he competed. He was much
improved in their rematch, an enthralling nip-and-tuck affair in the center of
the ring. And four years later, he was the one left standing; his old foil
just didn't have much left.
Saturday's fight wasn't an advertisement for the beauty of the sport; it was a reminder of what it can take out of its participants. But I won't think of it as a sob story. Both made eight figures for the fight, and they had gotten to this juncture in their respective careers because of nights of excellence in the ring, with their 2018 rematch serving as a shining example. And although Saturday's fight failed to deliver the goods, Canelo and Golovkin have more than earned their place on boxing's grand stage.
Canelo's left hand was dominant against Golovkin Photo courtesy of Ed Mulholland |
Canelo had a clear case for winning eight to ten rounds on Saturday. Although not dazzling with activity, he was consistently more accurate and his best punches had more of an effect. In particular, his left hand caused Golovkin problems all fight. Canelo was able to better Golovkin's jab with his own. Golovkin was so concerned with defending Canelo's jab that Canelo found ample opportunities to land his left hook. As the fight progressed, Golovkin just didn't know which type of left hand was coming.
Canelo learned
two valuable lessons from his loss earlier this year to Dmitry Bivol. Not every
shot needed to be thrown with KO intentions. Notably, when Alvarez did go for
the home run, very few of those punches landed cleanly. When he kept things shorter and within
the flow of the fight, he had far more success. Canelo also relied on his
countering abilities, which wasn't the case against Bivol. His counters tamed Golovkin and just the threat of them
made Golovkin reluctant to take risks in the first half of the bout.
But there were
also concerning signs regarding Canelo's performance. He was noticeably less energetic
in the fight's final third. Golovkin had his best round of the fight in the ninth and belatedly he started to gain confidence. Yes, Canelo had a big lead
at that point; however, he didn't seem too interested in matching Golovkin's
intensity. Canelo closed the 12th well, but overall, he lacked vigor in the second
half of the match.
Golovkin's
performance could best be summed up with unenviable words and phrases:
hesitancy, lack of confidence, erosion of athleticism. Even when he landed his
best punches of the fight in the ninth and the eleventh, they barely put a dent
in Canelo. In their first bout in 2017, Golovkin's aggression and hard punching
drove Canelo to the ropes in retreat. But when Golovkin had his moments of
success on Saturday, I felt that they were more a function of Canelo taking breaks; he
was never seriously threatened. Golovkin's best punches of the fight were his
left hook and right uppercut, which aren't necessarily his best two shots. His
jab wasn't particularly accurate or piercing. His straight right hand wasn't a
factor. He didn't go to the body at all.
After the fight
Golovkin stated his intentions of continuing his career. He still holds two
major belts at middleweight (Saturday's fight was at 168), but at 40, it's
unlikely that there will be too many memorable triumphs left in his in-ring
career. Fortunately for him, middleweight is one of the worst weight classes in
boxing and of course there could always be a voluntary defense or two against
the jetsam of the division. But when next he's in against a legitimate top
opponent, I wouldn't like his chances.
Golovkin's career is one
filled with enormous pleasures and profound regrets. There was no
precedent for a Kazakh prizefighter becoming a bona fide draw in the United
States; yet Golovkin's fists and indomitable spirit crashed through that barrier. He was a ferocious puncher, a happy warrior and someone who was
easy to root for. He built a sizable following destroying those brave enough to
get in the ring with him. Unfortunately, major portions of his career were
marked by the fights that didn't happen. In his salad days, Sturm, Quillin,
Martinez, Cotto and Saunders avoided him. But after his prime Golovkin wound up
not fighting emerging threats such as Demetrius Andrade and Jermall Charlo (there's an
out-of-the-ring example of a boxer's life cycle).
His
first fight against Canelo WAS a robbery, but he could have had losses against
Derevyanchenko and Jacobs. He made a lot of money, was on TV all the time, and
made a huge mark in the sport. Perhaps it wasn't to the degree that many boxing
fans were hoping for, but don't cry too much for him. It's not as if he was
some anonymous boxer who toiled away in the sport's hinterlands. Golovkin is a
boxing success story, a great example of how talent can only be suppressed so
much. Even without notable dance partners throughout much of his prime,
Golovkin still developed a significant following. Boxing will never be a
meritocracy, as Golovkin's career has demonstrated, but the fact that he achieved as much as he did points to the sport's ability to reward talent, from
wherever it emerges.
Canelo and Golovkin embrace after the fight Photo courtesy of Ed Mulholland |
With Saturday's win Canelo continues to hold all four major belts at super middleweight, but after the fight he sounded exhausted, both physically and mentally. He indicated that he may need surgery on his left hand. Perhaps the break will do him well.
I
think that his performance on Saturday will be a sign of what to expect in this
next phase of his career. No longer a high-volume guy or someone who wants to
be active all three minutes a round, Canelo needs to make every punch count
while still winning rounds. Bivol and Golovkin were reminders that although
Canelo's punching power is formidable it doesn't solve all of his
problems. It's possible that Canelo will still have excellent nights left
in the ring, even likely, but he'll need to select matchups carefully to remain at the top level of the sport.
Opponents who rely on volume and athleticism will continue to be
difficult for him and won't be any easier as he ages.
The
Canelo-Golovkin series did not end on a high note, but there is much to take
from the trilogy. If you want to see a fighter who was able to make the Great
Canelo retreat out of necessity, then I present to you Gennadiy Golovkin in
their first fight. And if you want to see an all-time great middleweight
battle, the rematch is yours to enjoy. Or, if you are one to luxuriate in the
shithousery of professional boxing, you will find enough bad judging for your
tastes, and examples of a Golden Goose bending the sport to his will.
But I know what I'll remember: Golovkin's sublime performance in their first fight and the war that was their rematch. There was greatness in this series – two nights where I saw something special. And for me, that's why I'm here.
Great read. Really enjoyed it.
ReplyDelete