Canelo vs. Golovkin Early Betting Preview & Opening Boxing Odds

We are almost halfway through 2017 and there have been some great boxing matches. However, no fight is more anticipated than September’s mega-showdown between the two best pound-for- pound fighters in the sport: Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin. They will meet Sept. 16 with Golovkin a -170 favorite and Alvarez at +140 to determine who is the best middleweight in the world. Golovkin is the unified champion and Alvarez remains the lineal champ.

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Canelo vs. Golovkin Early Betting Preview & Opening Boxing Odds

This will be a contrast in styles with the thunderous dual sledgehammers of Golovkin pitted against the counterpunching and ring guile of Alvarez. Golovkin is 37-0 with 33 KOs and holds the WBA super middleweight title as well as the WBC and IBF middleweight crowns. He last fought in March and beat Daniel Jacobs by unanimous decision. Jacobs fared better than expected and won his share of rounds, but the heavily favored Golovkin landed more overall punches, was effective with his jab, dropped Jacobs in the fourth round and won a unanimous decision at Madison Square Garden. All three judges – Max DeLuca (114-113), Don Trella (115-112) and Steve Weisfeld (115-112) – scored the fight for champ from Kazakhstan. Golovkin landed 231-of-615 overall punches, 56 more than Jacobs (175-of- 541). Jacobs was credited with landing more power punches (144-of- 371 to 126-of- 259) and Golovkin connected with many more jabs (105-of- 356 to 31-of- 170). Jacobs, switching from orthodox to southpaw stance, did well in rounds 6, 7, 9 and 10 behind a strong jab and superior body work. While Golovkin struggled to maintain the energy of the bigger, younger Jacobs, he’ll be dealing with an even fresher, more powerful fighter in Alvarez. Alvarez is 49-1- 1 with 34 knockouts and doesn’t hold a belt, but that’s irrelevant. He comes off a dominant unanimous decision win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in early May. All three judges scored the 164.5-pound catchweight bout in favor of Alvarez, 120-108. Chavez, with both eyes nearly swollen shut and bruises on his face from Alvarez’s target practice, admitted afterward that Canelo proved himself the best Mexican boxer. Alvarez, the former junior middleweight champion, controlled Chavez with a stiff jab and routinely stung him with uppercuts and combinations. Alvarez, 26, outlanded Chavez, 228 to 71, according to CompuBox, in a one-sided drubbing. Golovkin was in attendance at ringside. “Golovkin, you are next, my friend,” Alvarez said after the fight, and that’s when Golovkin took a walk to the ring to announce the two will fight. “I feel very excited,” Golovkin said. “In September, it’s big Mexican style, a big drama show.” Alvarez-Golovkin is set for Sept. 16 and will air live on HBO pay-per-view. A location has not been set for the fight at this time. It’s likely going to be in Las Vegas but Madison Square Garden in New York and the AT&T Stadium in Dallas are being considered as possible venues for the fight. For what it’s worth, Floyd Mayweather Jr., who dominated Alvarez a few years ago, says Golovkin has no chance against the Mexican. Mayweather is the only fighter to beat Alvarez and once ruled the middleweight division. “Do I think Triple G can beat Canelo? Absolutely not,” said Mayweather, who believes Golovkin has become predictable and that Alvarez will be too smart for the champion. “I don’t think it’ll go the distance.” Alvarez is younger than Golovkin. His hands are faster. He’s a better combination puncher. He throws a greater variety of punches. His defense is better. But Golovkin has an edge in power and a superior jab. Let’s get it on!