Forever linked, Canelo and GGG write their next chapters this weekend
Whether they like it or not, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin are forever linked. Two entertaining, world-class, highly controversial battles have made them the Leonard-Hearns of their era. It’s almost impossible to think of one and not the other.
But Canelo and “GGG” have gone on divergent paths since their last meeting, with Alvarez achieving consensus status as the best fighter in boxing. And Golovkin looking like the end might be near. A third battle, however appealing, is unlikely. But in boxing, you never know.
They’ll write the latest chapters of their storied careers just one day apart. Golovkin will defend his IBF middleweight title against Kamil Szeremeta at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, FL (3 p.m., Friday, DAZN). And Canelo will battle Callum Smith for the super and regular WBA and vacant WBC super-middleweight titles at the Alamodome in San Antonio (6 p.m., Saturday, DAZN).
CANELO VS. SMITH
Opponent-wise, Alvarez has the tougher task this weekend. And he should. The Mexican superstar hasn’t been in a fight in more than a year when he knocked out Sergey Kovalev in the 11th round with one of the prettiest combinations you’ll ever see. There were possibilities of a third Golovkin fight earlier in the year, but the deal was never struck, and then the pandemic hit and everything stopped.
Now, Canelo, 53-1-2 (36 knockouts), Guadalajara, hopes to pick up where he left off in this, the next stage of his career. Though he hasn’t fought in 2020, the year was significant in that Canelo split with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions. The pair had achieved the pinnacle together, gaining status, wealth and championships while partners. And though no one expects the break to do any damage to Canelo’s psyche or confidence, things are definitely different now with De La Hoya out of the picture.
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In the ring, the question is ring rust. The 30-year-old was a prime fighting machine against Kovalev. And before that against Daniel Jacobs. The timing, the skill, the sharpness - they were all there. Will he still be as sharp a year later?
Because, if you’ve seen the recent photos of Canelo and his next opponent face-to-neck, er, face-to-face, you can see why he’ll need to be sharp.
Smith, 27-0 (19 KO’s), Liverpool, England, is 6-foot-3. That’s seven inches taller than Canelo’s 5-8. It’s really one of the more startling height differentials in a big fight in recent years. Thomas Hearns was five inches taller than Marvin Hagler, and that looked enormous. Smith looks a whole two weight classes bigger.
But unlike Canelo’s 2018 opponent Rocky Fielding, who was 6-1, Smith can fight. He’s held the WBA’s “Super” 168-pound title since 2018 when he stopped George Groves in seven rounds. Since then, he’s made a couple of defenses, stopping Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam in three and outpointing John Ryder over 12 last year.
“Mundo” is fundamentally sound. He’s got an excellent jab - which he’ll definitely need - and a smashing left hook. It is surprisingly quick and sharp. Check out his wicked knockout of Luke Blackledge in 2016 as proof. His right hand ain’t bad either. He finished N’Jikam with it. He can also go to the body, especially with the left.
Make no mistake, this is no pushover fight for Canelo. Smith is a real challenge.
That said, Smith had perhaps his worst outing in his last fight, a disputed win over Ryder in November 2019. The scores were wide in favor of Smith, but many believe Ryder did enough to win. Ryder was successful in getting inside Smith’s jab and pounding the body. He often had Smith against the ropes, and frustrated Smith with feints, shoulder movement and head rolls.
Who does that sound like?
The difference is that Ryder was a southpaw. Smith seemed to have serious problems with the angles. He won’t have to worry about the stance against Canelo. He will have to worry about the angles.
With his height and equally-significant eight-inch reach advantage (78 inches), Smith must establish the jab early, and tie Canelo up on the inside. He’s a natural 168, so he hopes that his leverage will be comparable to Canelo’s brute strength. What’s not comparable to Canelo is his speed and skill. Even with all his physical advantages, Smith will have to execute a perfect gameplan to pull this off. That it’s in San Antonio doesn’t bode well for his chances.
But he will perform well, and he will indeed give Canelo problems. It won’t be enough to unseat the best fighter in boxing, but enough to earn many American fans.
Canelo by unanimous decision.
GOLOVKIN VS. SZEREMETA
At the age of 38, the once-mighty GGG is not the physical terror he was in his prime. When he was bludgeoning good fighters like Grzegorz Proksa, Matthew Macklin, Curtis Stevens, Martin Murray and David Lemieux with ferocious ease, you remember those days. It’s easy to say years later that Golovkin was overrated. But those who watched him know that wasn’t the case. And though it is hard to keep track in this era of belt-happy sanctioning bodies, GGG defended his WBA strap 21 times. He was clearly one of the great 160-pounders of all time.
Those days, however, are long gone. In his last fight in October 2019, he struggled mightily with Sergiy Derevyenchenko in winning a disputed decision. In an otherwise razor-close fight, Golovkin’s first-round knockdown was the difference. Even so, GGG was bruised and rocked throughout the 12-round battle, especially to the body. It was a sure sign that the iron-chinned, iron-willed Kazakh was losing the fight to Father Time.
It’s 14 months later, and Golovkin says he is refreshed. Sometimes that works for older fighters. See: George Foreman. This fight will be a gauge as to where exactly GGG stands in 2020.
Szeremeta, 21-0 (5 KO’s), is a 31-year-old Polish fighter without a notable win on his record. He’s been made to look good against the modest competition, and he’s not unskilled. But it’s a giant leap up from Oscar Cortes (his last opponent in October 2019, TKO 2) to Golovkin. And his lack of pop will be a hindrance against an onrushing train like GGG.
This is Golovkin’s last chance to look good enough to get the public interested in a Canelo rubber match. If he fails here - or even struggles - retirement could beckon.
Go with GGG in a good performance that keeps his hopes alive.
Golovkin by 6th-round TKO.
Matthew Aguilar may be reached at maguilarnew@yahoo.com
@MatthewAguilar5 on Twitter