While Gennaidy “GGG” Golovkin, 37-0, of KAZ and out of L.A, CA, held the IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO Middleweight titles he was defending against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, 49-1-1, out of Guadalajara, MEX, who held both the WBC Middleweight and the WBO World Super Welterweight titles in September of 2017 in Las Vegas, NV, when the bout ended in a controversial split decision draw that most viewers had Golovkin well ahead.

One official Adalaide Byrd had Alvarez in front 118-110 and it was reported she was suspended for 30 days due to such a ridiculous score. Dave Moretti had Golovkin in front 115-113 and Don Trella 114-114, a draw. This writer had Golovkin well ahead 117-111 winning the last seven rounds.

When Golovkin turned up the heat in the sixth round Alvarez was on the move no longer standing in front of him. If it were the other way around Golovkin would have been called “chicken” by the Mexican fans. Alvarez received no such accusations.

It would be almost a year to the day when Golovkin and Alvarez would be re-matched. During that period Golovkin made one defense in May of 2018 knocking out in 2 rounds Vanes Martirosyan, 36-3-1, in Las Vegas, NV. WBO World Middleweight champion Demitrius “Boo Boo” Andrade showed interest to unify at the time.

In the re-match Golovkin replaced trainer Abel Sanchez with Jonathan Banks due to be rumored that Sanchez wanted more money. Instead of Golovkin fighting his usual boxer-puncher style he boxed the entire fight which cost him the majority decision. Only returning judge from their first encounter was Dave Moretti who this time had Golovkin behind 115-113, the opposite of the first one. Steve Weisfeld agreed with Moretti while Glenn Feldman had it 114-114. This writer had Golovkin in front 115-113 but a draw would not have been a problem.

After the second encounter Alvarez moved up to capture the WBA World Super Middleweight title stopping champion Rocky Fielding, 27-1. Alvarez would return to middleweight not defending against Golovkin but defeating Danny Jacobs, 35-2, in his last bout as a middleweight. He would go up to capture the WBO Light Heavyweight title and return to super middleweight in his next two fights. He is scheduled on May 8^th to unify with WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders, 30-0, while defending his WBC World and WBA Super World titles.

After their rematch Golovkin would have two bouts capturing the vacant IBF and IBO titles at middleweight stopping Poland’s Kamil Szeremeta, 21-0, in seven rounds in December of 2020 which was his most recent bout increasing his record to 41-1-1 with 36 knockouts. In April he turned 39 with nothing scheduled at the time.   

One of the other middleweight title holders is WBC World champ Jermall “Hit Man” Charlo, 31-0, out of Houston, TX, who last fought in September of 2020 being put under a 30-45 day suspension due to laceration over both eyes. He has defended his title twice. He has nothing scheduled since and has shown no reported interest in a unification fight.

 The other title holder is WBO World champ Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade, 29-0, of Providence, RI, is scheduled this weekend defending against British and WBO inter-continental champ Liam “The Machine” Williams, 23-2-1 (18), in Hollywood, FL, in his fourth defense. He has shown interest in a Golovkin fight in the past.

Rumors have both Charlo and Andrade more interested in moving up in weight to fight Alvarez than unifying to fight Golovkin. Both Golovkin and Alvarez fight for DAZN (the Zone) so it should have made it easier for them to have the third fight at middleweight.

In this writer’s opinion Alvarez moved up in weight to avoid a third Golovkin fight. Alvarez does not look trim at 168 like he did at 160 so weight should not be the problem or his age at 30. Most of his fights have been in Nevada and Texas. Charlo being from Texas would be a draw though Andrade has only fought in the western part of the country once, in Texas.