Canelo-GGG- The fight that saves boxing

Boxingnews24.com

By Greg Houghton: The upcoming “Super fight” between Mayweather and McGregor has worried many people in the boxing world over the future of the sport, fearing that future cross-pollinated events between MMA fighters and boxers might become diluted versions of the sweet science. But we think that Oscar De-La-Hoya, by finally signing this fight between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and GGG, has somewhat saved boxing.

(Photo credit Sapir Caduri)

At a time when Floyd Mayweather, one of the pioneering figures in boxing is as some see it, watering down the sport in his next fight in the name of a big payday, boxing is in some ways in danger. It has recently been pressed that Gervonta Davies is likely to appear on the undercard of Mayweather Mcgregor in a boxing match, but what for the rest of the card? Will there be more than one MMA vs. Boxing match?

Is this the time where we pay high pay per view costs to watch two fighters in a ring competing in a sport which only one has made a career from? Would we spend PPV money to watch Real Madrid play a team of rugby players, who, compete in a sport that also involves kicking a ball? Oscar De-La-Hoya recently wrote a detailed and some what reactive piece in answer to the “super fight” being announced, a match up which fight fans will watch more out of intrigue than genuine interest. It’s an event designed to caress the wants of the casual fans as the loudest noise in MMA competes in a different sport against the best defensive fighter of our generation, and no doubt one of the greatest of all time.

It was clear in Oscar De-La-Hoya’s eyes, in his over the top body language how much he wants this fight to hit big numbers against it’s competition in August.

Having attended the NYC press tour of the Canelo GGG fight earlier this week, it was clear in Oscar De-La-Hoya’s eyes, in his over the top body language how much he wants this fight to hit big numbers against it’s competition in August. It’s no wonder when we look at the Golden Boy roster. Jorge Linares looked superb on two occasions against Anthony Crolla over the last year, but other than Linares, Canelo is his only big fish for pay per view buys right now.

But Oscar needn’t worry nor react so venomously towards the feature money match that takes place in August, for what we have here before us on September 16th to quote Oscar from the presser on Tuesday, is “a real fight”.

There are certain fights that all fight fans would like to have made, for a whole number of different reasons. Some of those in today’s boxing world include; Anthony Joshua [AJ] vs. Deontay Wilder- In England, AJ is our national treasure. From the Olympics through until now we have loved him, supported him and now want to see him dominate the division. And it looks like the only one who can give him problems right now is Wilder.

Lomachenko vs. Crawford- Come on, you know why. Amir Khan vs Kell Brook- About time isn’t it?!

Eubank Jr vs either GGG or Canelo- Maybe that’s just me. Throwing spiteful words on social media at fighters who have just been beaten by world #1’s is not on, neither is mentioning big names when there was never an intention to take the fight. The Eubank’s play their game, which they are brilliant at. But this is a very annoying game for boxing fans to constantly read about. One could see it as karma for Eubank to find himself in a fight with such dire consequences such as these.

At this point there is absolutely no way of knowing who wins this fight

But the fight that takes place on Mexican Independence day September 16th is bigger and more exciting than any of these prospects. Not only do we have two huge punching Mexican style fighters but most importantly, at this point there is absolutely no way of knowing who wins this fight.

This match up is littered with contradictions. Defensively Canelo is fast becoming a master, so how does this explain Amir Khan picking him off for 5 rounds? And how did he get it so wrong against Mayweather?

Golovkin’s defense is oftentimes non-existent as previously shown in the Kell Brook fight. But despite looking so vulnerable on the back foot, he’s never been down nor really been hurt in a professional fight. How?

Canelo looked huge at 164.5 and is a notoriously big puncher also. So, we must wonder why he never managed to get Chavez Jr. out of there, who really was playing the role of heavybag that night. Does his power really not carry when he’s in at 160 and above?

Golovkin has built a legend of being a constant pressure fighter who never lets up and keeps coming at you with huge shots that grind his opponents down. So we must ask why he didn’t take Danny Jacobs out of there? Yes, he was fighting a light heavyweight on the night, but GGG looked tentative coming forward all night. Was he scared of Jacobs’ power and speed? If so, what’s he going to do about Canelo?

If you think of both fighters’ best attributes, you can clearly visualize them both winning this fight. The outcome is completely unpredictable, what is predictable however is that this will be an all out war. Years in the making, one vacated belt and a plethora of trainers slating Golden Boy later, boxing fans, we finally have our dream fight. After September 16th is done, regardless of the outcome of the “money fight” that comes and goes this August, boxing will be back in the spotlight with the winner of this fight being the biggest name in the sport.