#CaneloGGG: Round-by-round analysis

The most intriguing question that came to mind as soon as Gennady Golovkin and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez stepped into the ring was – will these two great skilled boxers going to give us a match worthy to talk about or we are just about to witness another farce?

Truely and really, the unified middleweight world championship fight between Triple G and Canelo Alvarez at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vega on Saturday, September 16, 2017 lived up to its expectation.

At a point both crafty boxers had to blend style with experience whiles Golovkin [38-0-1, 33 KOs] never looked like a 35yr old in the ring judging from his enviable rate of endurance.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez [49-1-2, 34 KOs] did not also leave his counter punching skill at home as he thrilled the packed arena with some few memorable shots.

In the end, the onus fell on the judges to decide but their decision will definitely be subject to public scrutiny in the coming weeks.

Here’s the round-by-round updates and my scoring for the fight.

Round 1: Canelo looking big and strong, still wearing his red beard. GGG looks like he always does. Ready for a fight. Both men look deadly serious. GGG cuts off the ring right away. Jabbing. Canelo tentative. Right by Canelo, and right by GGG follows. Little action so far. Left to the body by Canelo. Couple rights by GGG. Combo by Canelo. Right uppercut misses by Canelo, but he connects with another combo and wins the round. 1-0 Canelo.

Round 2: GGG jabbing strongly. Right overhand by Canelo glances off. Short right and left by Canelo. Another right by Canelo. He walks GGG back. Short uppercut by GGG. Canelo counters with a left uppercut. GGG continues to use the jab effectively. GGG ends the round by scoring a combination. GGG round 1-1.

Round 3: GGG continued the jabbing, Canelo counter with a left to the liver. Canelo comes forward. Canelo misses with a jard right. Canelo connects with body shot and hard uppercut. They clinch for the first time. Left and right by GGG. Very close round, but I give it to Canelo. 2-1.

Round 4: Both fighters continue to be cautious. Combo by Canelo, GGG counterswith a combo of his own. Left hook by GGG, He continues to cut off the ring, then unloads on Canelo on the ropes. Right to the body by GGG, Canelo a right to the body. Now GGG walks Canelo back, Canelo misses with left uppercut. Strong round for GGG. I have it tied through four rounds.

Round 5: Both fighters keep their distance. Combo by Canelo. GGG has him on the ropes again. Canelo throws right haymaker. Wild left misses. Left to the head connects for Canelo. Another body shot by Canelo. Then a right to the head glances off. Vicious right to the head by GGG as Canelo shakes his head. as if it didn’t faze him. Crowd roars. Combo by GGG scores. GGG looking strong again. Wins big in the 5th. 3-2 GGG.

Round 6: GGG looking quicker and attacks Canelo on the ropes again. Left uppercuct by Canelo scores. GGG moving well. Crows exhorts Canelo to do better. GGG masterful at cutting off the ring. GGG attacks the body. Body shot and uppercut by GGG. Canelo comes back with a combo and left uppercut. Crowd chants for GGG. Another big round for GGG. 4-2 GGG.

Round 7: A firefight, First Canelo connects, then GGG counter with a hard right. Right overhand by Canelo as GGG drops a right hand and continues to stalk Canelo. GGG chases Canelo around the ring. Unloads on the ropes again. Canelo seems confused. Counter left by Canelo, but again, not enough work by Canelo as GGG consistently gets him on the ropes. Another GGG round 5-2.

Round 8: Hard right uppercut by GGG. Canelo counters with a right. Hard jab by GGG. A short right by GGG. Right uppercut by Canelo misses. Left uppercut by GGG. Left uppercut by GGG. Vicious right uppercut by Canelo lands. But GGG wallks through it. GGG stalks Canelo again. GGG’s ring skills are obvious and tremendous. 6-2 GGG.

Round 9: GGG throws a combo. Canelo’s body shots don’t seem to faze GGG. Tremendous exchange by the two fighters. Canelo looks to be in trouble. He can’t get off the ropes. But he connects on a huge right hand. Canelo has been on the ropes all night. Again GGG throws combos and Canelo misses with a wild right. Left and a right by Canelo connects. Canelo round 7-2.

Round 10: They’re going toe-to toe. Right s by Canelo stagger GGG. Both unloading hard shots. GGG hitting Canelo with hard shots with those heavy hands. Crowd chants for Canelo. They clinch. Left by Canelo as GGG continues to walk him down. Toe to toe action with point-blank shots connecting. Wow! Canelo has a good round in a close round, I give him the round 7-3.

Round 11: Right by Canelo connects, but they don’t seem to hurt GGG. Left uppercut by Canelo scores. GGG gets him on the ropes again and throws a right uppercut. Counter right by Canelo clips GGG. Two hard rights by Canelo score big. Right by GGG connects but Canelo counters. Right and left from GGG, Left counter by GGG scores in a big round. No knockdowns yet, though. GGG round 8-3 on my card. Close rounds though.

Round 12: Right uppercut by Canelo and another hard right. Combo by Canelo scores. GGG attacks. Left by GGG. What a chin he has!. They go toe-to-toe Caneloe misses with a right GGG but the two fighters go at it for the last minute of the fight. What a fight! And it;s over. Good round for Canelo, and he wins it. 8-4 GGG, but it could be closer than that. Strong finish by both fighters.

Credit: USA Today| sports24ghana.com