Event of the Day: Canelo Álvarez v Gennady Golovkin
Our event of the day...
is the huge clash between Mexico’s Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez and Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin of Kazakhstan in Las Vegas with the winner walking away with the WBC, WBA, IBF and IBO middleweight belts. The fight is being tipped to be one of the fights of the decade due to the impressive records of both Álvarez and Golovkin, not to mention the explosive power both fighters possess. Like some of the other recent classics (such as Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley in April) opinion is divided as to who will win this encounter.
Golovkin currently holds the belts and his record of 37 wins from all 37 of his fights (33 by knockout) indicate it will not be easy to take them from him. However Álvarez has age on his side, being 8 years Golovkin’s junior with some commentators observing a slight decline in form from the Kazakhstani in his last few outings. Álvarez also boasts an impressive record winning 49 of his 51 fights (34 by knockout) with his one defeat coming at the hands of the undefeated Floyd Mayweather back in 2013, the one draw was to Jorge Juarez in 2006. Both of these fighters have the predatory instinct to pick off a match-winning punch in dramatic fashion, so this finely-poised matchup could be over very quickly just as easily as it could go the distance. Expect a night of tension and suspense as two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world go head to head in Vegas.
Honourable mentions...
go to the T20 match between England and the West Indies at the Emirates Riverside in Durham. England (currently ranked second in the world T20 rankings) will look to follow up on their recent test series win over the Windies. Meanwhile, the visitors (ranked 4th in the world T20 rankings) welcome big limited-overs names to their squad such as Marlon Samuels, Kieron Pollard and the imposing Chris Gayle.
TIn Aviva Premiership Rugby there is a special match from the USA with the Newcastle Falcons taking on Saracens in Philadelphia. The Rugby Championship continues as New Zealand host South Africa at North Harbour Stadium. In AFL, Greater Western Sydney Giants go up against West Coast Eagles in a semi-final at the Sydney Showground Stadium. Meanwhile in football, unbeaten Premier League sides Watford and Manchester City battle it out at Vicarage Road.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Fixture
Photos by WBA Boxing