Why You Should Bet on Saul "Canelo" Alvarez against Gennady "GGG" Golovkin
By Loot, Boxing Handicapper, Lootmeister.com
The September 16 middleweight title showdown of Saul "Canelo" Alvarez vs. Gennady "GGG" Golovkin promises to provide thrills. For real boxing fans, this is the most anticipated bout of the year. This fight is for not only supremacy in the middleweight division, but it's the kind of legacy-building fight that will go a long way toward determining the greatness of each man. When it's all said and done, boxers are judged by how they perform in these kinds of fights. There is a ton at stake.
Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, 26, is a bonafide boxing superstar. At 49-1-1 with 34 knockouts, his only loss came four years ago in a decision loss to the best of his era in Floyd Mayweather. He now faces another career-defining moment in this fight with the feared and unbeaten GGG. The Mexican megastar is a slight underdog in this fight, though some Alvarez betting support could come in late and make the odds nearly even. Whatever the case, this is a rare moment in boxing where two top guys battle it out in a fight that a lot of people regard as a toss-up. Salient cases can be made on either fighter. Let's break down the case for Canelo winning:
Better Opposition: While Golovkin has certainly beaten good fighters, it's really his first foray into the elite class of boxing. And that's an area where Canelo has some experience, despite being almost a decade Golovkin's junior. In his formative stages as a teen, he swapped leather with some good talent, twice fighting future lightweight champ Miguel Vazquez. Once graduating to world class, he took on one good fighter after the next, eventually meeting guys like Shane Mosley, Austin Trout, Mayweather, Erislandy Lara, Miguel Cotto, and Amir Khan. If you were to list the top 6-8 fighters beaten by both men, all of them would be opponents that only Canelo has fought. So when we compare the strengths and weaknesses of both combatants, let's not forget that Canelo has been in with better people.
Youth: Sure, using a fighter's date of birth to justify taking a position on him has obvious drawbacks. But this is a sport where youth is served more often than not. At 26, Canelo is squarely in his prime. With 50+ fights and a boxer's face that suggests a long career, he might be an old 26, but he's nearly a decade younger than his opponent. Perhaps Golovkin looking less-fearsome overall in his last two fights is connected to the fact that he's 35 years old now. The waiting game in making this bout come to fruition has helped Canelo, whose expiration date is not looming. It's not so much that Canelo's age will help him win, but Golovkin's age could yield an edge for Alvarez.
Increasing Power: Part of being young is a still-developing skill set. Canelo was always a good puncher, but seems to have developed more fight-ending power in recent years. Naturally, with Golovkin knocking almost all his opponents out and the more-natural 160-pounder, the attention will be on his punching power. But Golovkin has never faced a foe that can so consistently apply power punches. Against offensively-minded fighters like GGG, Canelo has been showing his power can be a fight-changing element. It could wind up playing a big role in the fight.
Fight Locale: When big fights take place in Las Vegas, it's wise to account for the potential for monkey business. Not that Alvarez has relied on generosity from the judges to get where he is, but they have certainly been favorable to Canelo. In some of his biggest fights, we have seen enormously generous cards handed down in favor of Alvarez. Against Austin Trout, he looked to win the fight, but not close to the margin of the scorecards. While most observers saw him dominated by Mayweather, one judge managed to see the fight as a draw. He won the decision against Lara in what looked to be a fight that was up in the air. While a lot of people saw his fight with Cotto as being close, the scorecards suggested a wipeout victory for Canelo. So, it's been established that Canelo opponents are not only fighting a terrific fighter, but sometimes the judges, as well. Call it the long-honored "superstar privilege," a practice where fighters need to go above-and-beyond to beat megastars in the sport.
BET ON THE CANELO ALVAREZ VS. GENNADY "GGG" GOLOVKIN SUPERFIGHT FROM THE COMFORT OF HOME TODAY AT 5DIMES
Youthful Veteran Tactics/Chin: Canelo combines the rare combination of being a veteran, while still being young. While most youngsters are preparing for tenth grade, Alvarez was turning professional. Now with a pro career that spans back a dozen years, Alvarez benefits from the experience, while still being just 26 years of age. And his career movement has been very thoughtful, with Canelo having faced every kind of opponent. He has been in huge events before and knows how to perform at his best under the bright lights. The same can't yet be said about his much older opponent. It gives Canelo a unique advantage—being more experienced at the highest levels, while also being significantly younger.
We also can't help but notice how durable and rugged Canelo has been throughout his career. He's tangled with a lot of hard-hitting fighters and other than an occasional dipped knee or slight wobble, he has never been in danger of being stopped or even knocked down. When people cite reasons that Golovkin will win, power is usually the first thing that is mentioned. And while he has never faced someone as punishing as GGG, Alvarez has shown that his chin is world-class. Tired of your credit card not working for sportsbook deposit? End that problem today and bet on Canelo vs. GGG from home by signing up at Bovada Sportsbook where your credit card WILL work and where you'll receive a generous 50% sign-up bonus!
