Both Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin and Canelo Alverez were back in action (on separate cards) after extended layoffs.
The two fighters took different paths in their comeback. For Golovkin, his opponent was carefully picked out and presented no danger. The result was predictable. Golovkin stopped the overmatch Kamil Szeremeta in seven rounds. Golovkin was out 440 days
Canelo went the exact opposite route. In his first fight in a little over a year, he went up against contender Callum Smith. He dominated Smith with a combination of technical boxing superiority and punishing power. The judges scored the fight 119-109 (twice) and the third had it 117-111.
What We Learned
After Thursday’s weigh-in, GGG was asked whether we would see the aggressive GGG or the patient GGG. His response was, he was older and smarter. Friday night’s stoppage showed a little bit of both.
It had been 440 days since we last saw him. That night, Sergiy Derevyanchenko gave GGG all he could handle.
GGG knocks Szeremeta down AGAIN ? pic.twitter.com/8uUuF8xnxq
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) December 19, 2020
In the first round GGG was patient yet coming forward behind a hard jab. He was rewarded with a knockdown on a perfect left hook at the end of the round. The round set the tone as GGG would put him down again in the second, fourth, and seventh rounds.
The victory was a record-breaking 21st defense of his title.
Here’s look at the Final Punch Stats.
| Golovkin | Szeremeta | |
| Total Punches | 228-554 (41%) | 59-327 (18%) |
| Power Punches | 134-237 (56%) | 49-135 (36%) |
| Jabs | 94-317 (30%) | 10-192 (5%) |
Canelo showed what most already knew… he’s one of the best fighters, if not the best, in the world.
Despite being the smaller fighter in stature, Canelo was able to dictate the pace and the distance behind his jab. The jab along with his underrated footwork, kept him at a comfortable distance. It also helped that Canelo never felt threatened by Smith’s power, or lack thereof.
| Canelo | Smith | |
| Total Punches | 214-494 (43%) | 99-539 (18%) |
| Power Punches | 126-220 (57%) | 55-228 (24%) |
| Jabs | 88-274 (32%) | 44-311 (14%) |
The only way Smith could win was to pump his jab and hope that it discouraged Canelo from coming forward. That didn’t happen.
Probably the most impressive take-aways from last night’s fight was the fact that Canelo had no ring rust. You hear fighters say all the time how they’re in the gym during long layoffs. All too often, the layoff causes fighters to look sluggish especially early on.
Canelo had the pedal to the metal all night long. ?
(@Autozone) pic.twitter.com/1aHbOtV54V
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) December 20, 2020
That wasn’t the case for Canelo. Just like Errol Spence Jr. He let the boxing world know that he’s still a problem
What’s Next
There was already talk about a Cinco De Mayo date for Canelo-GGG III.
The third fight should happen sometime in 2021 before Canelo really decides to move on. The champ has his pick of opponents and he doesn’t need GGG or a third fight to get big time paydays against top-flight opponents.
After two close fights, a potential third match-up is setting up to be a blowout.
At this point of their careers, Canelo is head and shoulders a better fighter and it isn’t close. Canelo’s combination of boxing skill and power sets a third fight up to look like Aaron Pryor-Alexis Arguello II.
Photo Credit: Canelo Alvarez celebrates after defeating Callum Smith by unanimous decision in a championship title fight at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Saturday.(Ed Mulholland / Matchroom)
