Gennady Golovkin vs. Canelo Alvarez: LIVE Round By Round Scorecard For Fight

Recap: One of the most anticipated middleweight fights in decades resulted in a draw, despite many boxing experts siding with Gennady Golovkin (37-0-1) over Canelo Alvarez (49-1-2) in their hard-fought but contentious battle Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Judge Don Trella had the fight 114-114, while Dave Moretti scored the fight 115-113 in favor of Golovkin. Adalaide Byrd had the most controversial scorecard: 118-110 for Alvarez.

International Business Times scored the fight, 116-112, for Golovkin. HBO's Harold Lederman also scored it that way for Golovkin.

According to CompuBox, Golovkin outlanded Alvarez, 218-169, and connected on more punches in 10 of the 12 rounds. Alvarez landed more power punches than Golovkin, 114-110, but Golovkin landed far more jabs, 108-55.

The result, which has drawn many raised eyebrows, is expected to prompt a rematch.

After the fight, Golovkin admitted dismay with the result but also relief that he remains the champion of the middleweight division.

"It was a big drama show," Golovkin said. "[The scorecards are] not my fault. I put pressure on him every round."

"Look, I still have all the belts. I am still the champion," Golovkin said, in response to many who may have felt the draw may have tarnished is unblemished record.

Preview: The best boxing match of 2017 is finally here. Canelo Alvarez (49-1-1) and Gennady Golovkin (37-0) are set to fight Saturday night at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile arena, pitting the world’s best middleweights against one another.

It’s probably the No.1 fight that boxing fans have been waiting to see over the last two years. Golovkin has dominated the middleweight division, knocking out just about every opponent he’s faced and making an argument to be ranked as boxing’s best pound-for-pound fighter. Alvarez is the sport’s biggest pay-per-view draw, and the jump to 160 pounds has been long overdue after proving to be the top 154-pound fighter.

Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor brought together boxing, MMA and casual sports fans for the best-selling fight of 2017, but the undefeated boxer was always going to get the victory. Andre Ward vs. Sergey Kovalev was arguably a matchup of top-five fighters, though their styles didn’t make for the bout that Alvarez vs. Golovkin does.

Golovkin might have more power than anyone in boxing, and it helped him record 23 straight knockouts from 2008-2016. His most recent fight against Daniel Jacobs went the distance, though the champ did score a knockdown in the unanimous decision victory.

Alvarez doesn’t have nearly the same knockout percentage, though he rarely has a fight that doesn’t entertain. He landed 228 punches in his last fight, getting the best of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in all 12 rounds.

Saturday’s winner would have an argument to be considered the best boxer in the world, regardless of weight class. Golovkin enters the bout with a perfect record and 18 straight successful title defenses. The only loss Alvarez has ever suffered was at the hands of Floyd Mayweather when he was 23 years old.

Having only fought as a middleweight and never lost, Golovkin is the slight betting favorite. Alvarez, however, is a much smaller underdog than he was a year ago when it seemed like the fight might become a reality. The Mexican fighter has won seven consecutive bouts, and three of his last five fights haven’t reached the 10th round.

Even though the odds are close, Alvarez is in an unfamiliar position as an underdog. He’s entered all of his fights as the favorite with the exception of two, according to OddsShark. Mayweather was not surprisingly favored in their 2013 bout, and the odds were against Alvarez when he fought Jose Cotto in a 2010 welterweight fight.

Both fighters came in at exactly 160 pounds at Friday afternoon’s weigh-in. Alvarez moved up from 154 pounds to 164 pounds for his last fight, though he’s never fought at the middleweight limit of 160 pounds.

Alvarez has been guaranteed a purse of $5 million, while Golovkin is set to make no less than $3 million. Both fighters will make significantly more based on PPV revenue and ticket sales.

The three judges are Don Trella (Connecticut), Adalaide Byrd (Nevada) and Dave Moretti (Nevada). Kenny Bayless is the referee.

Here is how International Business Times scores the Alvarez-Golovkin fight:

Round 1

Golovkin started the fight with a jab, cutting off the ring and applying pressure for much of the round. GGG used his jab effectively and Canelo landed a couple of body shots. But GGG was more active and takes the first round.

Golovkin 10-9

Round 2

Not much action in the first minute, though Canelo lands a combination to the face. Golovkin is on the defensive for much of the round, landing a couple of jabs that don’t seem to have much effect. A few impactful body shots and control of the ring gives this one to Canelo.

Alvarez 10-9

Round 3

Golovkin finally utilizes some power punches, starting off the round by landing multiple shots to the head. It’s the best round of the fight as Golovkin lands a few left hooks and Canelo scores some good body shots.

Golovkin 10-9

Round 4

Both fighters are now looking to land power shots, and Golovkin finally goes to the body. Canelo is still effective with his body shots in the first minute, but GGG gets Canelo up against the ropes 90 seconds in. Golovkin seems to have found his groove.

Golovkin 10-9

Round 5

GGG gets Canelo up against the ropes again and lands a good combination. Canelo fights out of it and is able to keep pace with more body shots. GGG lands a right to Canelo’s head, the biggest shot of the round. Just as Canelo looks to be hurt, he comes back with a few shots to the head of his own. Canelo showed great resolve, but it might have been too late.

Golovkin 10-9

Round 6

Canelo lands maybe his best shot of the fight with a left hand to Golovkin’s body. The two trade some shots in the center of the ring, and Golovkin backs up Canelo into the ropes again. GGG isn’t able to maintain control as Canelo fights out of trouble. That one can go either way.

Golovkin 10-9

Round 7

It’s the same story in Round 7. GGG gets Canelo up against the ropes, but Golovkin isn’t quite able to take advantage. He’s able to land enough headshots to steal the round, though Canelo is hanging around and landing some big body shots that could be stealing some rounds.

Golovkin 10-9

Round 8

Golovkin is on the attack in the first 30 seconds with some more good shots to the head. Canelo continues to work the body, though he swings and misses when trying to go upstairs. Canelo counters with a good uppercut two minutes in, but his counters aren’t enough to match Golovkin, who might have landed twice as many punches that round.

Golovkin 10-9

Round 9

What a first minute. They’re trading shots in the corner and Canelo seems to be hurt for a second. But the Mexican fighter isn’t backing down, countering with shots to the head of his own. GGG is eating a lot of Canelo’s power punches. It’s Canelo’s best round in a while, but GGG takes another one.

Golovkin 10-9

Round 10

Canelo is working the body and seems to have GGG in some trouble. We’ve got a brawl on our hands as the action moves toward the ropes. GGG fights back and is landing the jab effectively. Canelo seems to be worn out, but he’s dodging any power shots from Golovkin. They trade more shots to close out an exciting round.

Alvarez 10-9

Round 11

Less action in this round, but Canelo picks things up 90 seconds in. He lands some shots to the head, though GGG takes control and cuts off the ring. Golovkin is landing his jab, but missing some effective power shots. Canelo probably did more damage and takes another round.

Alvarez 10-9

Round 12

Canelo comes out firing, landing a big right hand before the ref breaks things up. Canelo is all over GGG with shots to the head that are affecting GGG. But Golovkin counters with power shots of his own. Neither fighter is taking any part of this round off. Canelo landed more power shots and finishes the fight strong.

Alvarez 10-9

Final IBT scorecard

Golovkin 116, Alvarez 112

Final Result

Draw (118-110 for Alvarez, 115-113 for Golovkin, and 114-114)