Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin Expert Predictions: Mayweather, Pacquiao, Others Pick Winner

Saturday’s fight between Canelo Alvarez and Gennady “GGG” Golovkin is the biggest boxing match of 2017. It might not be the spectacle that Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor was, but the 160-pounders both have a real chance to win the middleweight championship bout that should deliver non-stop action.

The betting odds barely favor one fighter over the other, and the experts can’t come to a consensus regarding who will win. Every prediction for Golovkin seems to be matched by someone picking Alvarez, making it a truly must-see event.

Let's take a look at some predictions for Alvarez vs. Golovkin by some of the biggest names in boxing.

Floyd Mayweather: Alvarez

“Canelo beat’s GGG easy,” Mayweather told FightHype.com last year. “He stops him. It won’t go the distance.”

Manny Pacquiao: Golovkin

“I watch boxing, I enjoy watching GGG, Canelo. It will be a good fight, it will be a tough fight, but GGG has the advantage with power and aggression,” Pacquiao said via BoxingScene. “We do not know if it's going to be by points or a knockout, but [either of] the two are good.”

Anthony Joshua: Alvarez

“It's going to be a tough fight because Triple G is from Kazakhstan, he has the good foundations of a boxer,” Joshua said, via The Daily Mail. “But so has Canelo, so I'll put my money on him.”

Amir Khan: Alvarez

“Going on their past few performances I think that Canelo is only getting better and will get the win,” Khan told ESPN. “Golovkin is an excellent fighter, but his last performance against Danny Jacobs [on March 18] would have given Canelo a lot of encouragement.”

Paulie Malignaggi: Golovkin

“I favor Golovkin in the fight,” Malignaggi told Boxing News. “Canelo has trouble with movers, which Golovkin is not, but Canelo also likes to take his time, and doesn’t like to be forced into situations where he has to fight more than he wants to.”

Dan Rafael, ESPN.com: Golovkin

“It's the best fight in boxing and I think it will live up to the hype with Golovkin winning a decision in a memorable battle we'll talk about for years.”

Teddy Atlas, ESPN TV: Alvarez

“Two years ago I said Golovkin was too big and too strong. Since then Golovkin has declined and perhaps even been exposed as a one-dimensional fighter while Canelo has improved. There will still be danger in that right hand of Golovkin for the first six rounds, but if Canelo can avoid getting caught with the big shot I think he can out box an older Golovkin and win a split decision.”

Joe Cortez, ESPN Deportes: Alvarez

“Golovkin is a strong fighter who brings lots of talent and has a good chin. But I think Alvarez, who is the younger fighter, is hungry to be the best pound-for-pound fighter and will win in a hard-fought fight by a close decision.”

Brian Campbell, CBS Sports: Golovkin

“In the end, considering the size of the stage, expect Alvarez to make it the distance. Whether or not he chose to be daring enough to actually win the fight is another story altogether. Barring any tomfoolery from the judges, Alvarez doesn't throw enough punches to match GGG's high volume. That should hurt him on the scorecards, just as it ultimately did Jacobs against Golovkin.”

Lance Pugmire, L.A. Times: Alvarez
“Canelo is the fighter who wanted Floyd Mayweather Jr. at age 23. And although he lost that challenge badly, Golovkin lacks the Mayweather foot speed. He’ll be there to engage with Alvarez, and since the youth and power belong to Mexico’s most popular fighter, he’s the pick in this corner by 11th-round knockout.”