Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin: Expert Picks For The Super fight

Though the biggest fight of the year took place a few weeks ago, the best one is happening Saturday in Las Vegas when Saul "Canelo" Alvarez battles Gennady Golovkin. 

The two elite pugilists will square off at T-Mobile Arena, the same site that hosted Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor in late August. While that fight loomed large over the sport for months, this upcoming championship bout has far greater implications for boxing. 

For all of his greatness, Mayweather only seems to have unretired for a payday he couldn't refuse, while McGregor's career boxing record may never move post 0-1. Canelo and Golovkin, meanwhile, are two middleweight monsters at the peak of their powers, and the winner will surely feel he deserves to be viewed as the pound-for-pound king. 

With much to discuss, we convened our panel of experts—Lyle Fitzsimmons, Kelsey McCarson, Kevin McRae and Jonathan Snowden—to pick apart all of the talking points and predict how this superfight will pay out.  

Who Wins? When and How?

Lyle Fitzsimmons: 

The closer it gets, the more I waver. I initially thought Golovkin would steamroll Canelo, but I'm far less convinced of that now. Canelo will not go down easy in this one. Nevertheless, I still think GGG lands the heavier shots over most of the rounds and does enough damage to end it in Round 10. 

Kelsey McCarson:

 I like Alvarez in the upset. During Golovkin's most recent fight against Daniel Jacobs, he didn't look as virile as he has in the past, and Alvarez is a much better boxer than people seem to believe. I think the first few rounds will go Golovkin's way, but Alvarez will be light on his feet and able to move Golovkin into his punches here and there. 

The middle rounds will be back and forth, and Alvarez will take the championship rounds with faster hands and more accurate punches. It will be a close fight, with some seeing it going the other way, but Alvarez will generally be credited with a clean win—the best of his career. Alvarez wins via majority decision.

Kevin McRae: 

Golovkin will win this fight via stoppage in Round 10. His jab is the key. It's practically a power shot in itself, and it has put more than one guy on the seat of his pants. If he can keep pumping that punch into Canelo's mug and set up his accumulating power shots, it's difficult to see how the Mexican star can keep him off and avoid getting chopped down late in the fight. 

Jonathan Snowden: 

I've thought long and hard about this. When two fighters are this good and this evenly matched, you have to.

GGG stalks fighters like they are prey. Canelo likes to sit back and let his opponents come to him. When these two clash, both will be in their element. With that in mind, I'll take the stronger, heavier puncher. That's GGG. Give me Golovkin via knockout in Round 8.

The Most Memorable Moment of the Fight Will Be…

Fitzsimmons: 

Like all long-anticipated matches, just seeing them in the ring together after final instructions will be a breathless moment. Couple that with a likely callout for Mayweather or McGregor afterward and you have yourself a few highlights. 

McCarson: 

I think the first time Alvarez snaps Golovkin's head back in the fight will be an eye-opener. Golovkin's power is world-renowned, as it should be. But Alvarez also has heavy hands, and he places them in the right places at the right times. Golovkin won't be able to walk forward and throw bombs to win the fight. Alvarez will force him to box honest, which will make this a tactical fight. 

McRae: 

Canelo is a warrior, and he's coming to fight. You get the sense that the fighting pride of Mexico has a significant chip on his shoulder after receiving heavy (but often fair) criticism for his recent opponent selections. GGG will win this fight, but Canelo will go out on his shield late in the contest, and he'll get credit for that. 

Snowden: 

After a brief period of feeling each other out, the two will eventually end up right in front of each other. Golovkin will throw a right hand. Canelo will attempt to duck it and pivot towards safety. Whether he can do that successfully will tell the story of this fight.

Will the Fight Go Down as an Instant Classic?

Fitzsimmons: 

It might not be on the Hagler-Hearns middleweight level, but it'll certainly be enough to make the Fight of the Year conversation. It's hard to believe this fight won't be compelling and thoroughly entertaining from end to end.

McCarson:

It will be a good fight, but it won't be the type of war one traditionally associates with instant classics. These are two of the best fighters in the sport. They are pound-for-pound elites who know how to set traps, lob counter attacks and use precise footwork with rhythm and balance. We will see a fun, competitive fight, but it won't be the kind of barnstormer that Arturo Gatti vs. Micky Ward was.

   

McRae: 

Yes. Two fighters at the top of their games who present unique stylistic challenges the other has never seen before? That often leads to high-octane action, and this shouldn't buck that trend. GGG is a massive power puncher who can stop you with one or an accumulation of punches. Canelo is a vicious body puncher who counters as well as anyone in the game. It's hard to see how this won't live up to the hype. 

Snowden: 

What happens when an unstoppable Kazakh force of nature meets a Mexican warrior seemingly crafted out of marble? We're about to find out. And it will be a fight people will tell their children about. It's almost guaranteed to be everything we want it to be and what boxing needs. 

Will the Winner Become the New Pound-for-Pound King?

Fitzsimmons:

I'm not sure he'll actually be better than Andre Ward, Vasyl Lomachenko or Terence Crawford, but being the legit king of one of boxing's signature divisions does warrant a certain amount of cache. As such, the winner and his camp—not to mention HBO—will bang the pound-for-pound drum. 

McCarson:

The winner may be able to advance in pound-for-pound rankings, but I don't think he'll universally be considered the best fighter in the sport. Ring Magazine, the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board and the Boxing Writers Association of America all list Ward at the top of their lists, which he deserves. Ward should remain pound-for-pound No. 1 no matter what happens in Canelo-GGG. His in-ring accomplishments are unparalleled. 

McRae: 

Who knows? Listen, these things often take on a life of their own. Mythical and subjective as they are, they can never satisfy everyone. When Floyd Mayweather was an active fighter, there was no question he was the top guy. Andre Ward tops my list right now, but you could make cases for Crawford and even Lomachenko if you'd like. Personally, the winner here will likely slot in as my No. 2 behind Ward.

Snowden:

 If Canelo wins, he'll assume the throne Floyd Mayweather recently abdicated as both the box office and pound-for-pound king. If Golovkin wins, it will be spun as a bigger man bullying a boxer coming up in weight. 

Is that fair? Of course not. But no one who makes their living with their fists expects the world to be fair.