By Miguel Maravilla at ringside
Photos: Sumio Yamada

WBA/WBC middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (38-1-1, 34 KOs) and Canelo Alvarez (50-1-2, 34 KOs) went to war for twelve rounds on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Both went toe-to-toe from the opening bell. Scores were 114-114, 115-113, 115-113 for Canelo.

Off to a slow start, both Canelo and Golovkin felt each other out as they jabbed in the opening round. Things picked up after as Canelo let his hands go off the counters in round two, Golovkin stalked behind the jab. The Mexican kept countering and wa the busier in round three sneaking in an uppercut that snapped Golovkin’s head. Standing in the center in round four, Golovkin connected with a solid right that caught Canelo’s attention.

An overhand right by Canelo in round five found its mark stopping Golovkin’s momentum. Canelo began to go downstairs and follow as Golovkin was in his back foot. Past the halfway point in the seventh Golovkin continues to use the stiff jab as Canelo stalked. To add to the drama, the two fighters also clashed heads. The eighth round saw Canelo bleeding above the cut as Golovkin began to close the gap.

Late in the fight, the jab stuck to the plan working the but Alvarez continued to throw combinations. Golovkin backed Canelo shortly after in the tenth, briefly stopping his momentum but the Mexican stood his ground. The championship rounds was drama with the fight close Golovkin took it to Canelo landing big punches but Alvarez responded with punches going after the champ. The twelve and final round with the fight hanging close Canelo went after Golovkin but slipped. Everyone was on their feet but referee Benji Estevez quickly ruled it a slip. Canelo and Golovkin traded away to the final bell.

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