Why Canelo vs. GGG Will Be More Exciting Than Mayweather vs. McGregor

The hype was overwhelming and excessive for Floyd Mayweather's Aug. 26 fight with UFC star Conor McGregor. But for boxing purists, the "superfight" would never live up to the contrived publicity. While the fight may have produced a satisfying conclusion, there were very few meaningful exchanges and damaging power punches, and as McGregor tired in the late rounds it seemed all but certain that Mayweather would finish the fight with a 10th-round stoppage.

Such inevitabilities aren't expected to be on display this Saturday night.

Filling the competitive void of Mayweather vs. McGregor will be two highly polished middleweights, who make up for their lack of name recognition with stellar ringmanship. Gennady "GGG" Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez rate among the great middleweights in decades and both bring impeccable records into their bout in Las Vegas.

On paper, the fight promises to be more compelling than Mayweather vs. McGregor, but there is more to the championship fight than how things look on the surface.

The Odds Are Almost Even

The opening odds for Mayweather vs. McGregor confirmed an epic mismatch, with oddsmakers listing Mayweather at -2,250 and McGregor at +950.

Oddsmakers for Golovkin vs. Alvarez, on the other hand, see it as a highly competitive matchup with Golovkin the slight favorite at -160 and Alvarez at +140. The odds have barely shifted in recent weeks, with Golovkin still favored at -160 and Alvarez at +135.

While many regard Golovkin as boxing's best pound-for-pound fighter, or at least one of the best, Alvarez isn't too far behind. Both have dominated their opponents, and Alvarez's lone defeat came against Mayweather, who used his legendary defensive tactics to dodge power punches.

But it won't matter who has the better record, who is ranked higher or who has the better odds when the opening bell rings for Golovkin vs. Alvarez. Both are smart, strategic brawlers with excellent chins, which means anything can happen when they step into the ring.

Alvarez And Golovkin Have Knockout Power

Ahead of their bout, Mayweather had a firmly established reputation for being the among greatest defensive specialists of all-time, while McGregor never had a professional fight. As much of the 10 rounds proved, Mayweather simply allowed McGregor to become fatigued before he started throwing real punches in the late rounds.

It promises to be a hard-hitting fight from start to finish between Alvarez and Golovkin. While both boxers will no doubt respect the other's abilities, they will not be reluctant to throw serious power punches. Alvarez has 34 knockouts in 51 fights, or two out of every three fights, while Golvokin has 33 knockouts in 37 fights, or 89 percent of his fights.

Even if there isn't a knockout, there could at least be knock downs. When Golovokin fought Daniel Jacobs, arguably his toughest opponent and a highly regarded middleweight, he knocked him down in the fourth round, landing consecutive hard rights before going the distance in a unanimous decision. As for Alvarez, look no further than the blow he unleashed on Amir Khan as evidence of his punching power.

There's More On The Line

Money appeared to be the sole motivation for Mayweather and McGregor — the fight was even billed as "The Money Fight" — as both fighters seemed determined to sell the bout as a "must see" event between a famed boxer and a renowned UFC fighter. With a tour that included all types of over-the-top theatrics, it ultimately paid off to the tune of an estimated $700 million purse.

Both Alvarez and Golovkin will fight beyond this Saturday, so a strong showing is crucial to their legacy and future. Golden Boy Promotions' founder Oscar De La Hoya confirmed to International Business Times that there is an opportunity for a rematch so an entertaining fight will no doubt lead to more pay-per-view buys for one or two more fights.

There is also pride and belts on the table. Alvarez and Golovkin will battle for the unified WBA (Super), WBC, IBF, Ring magazine, and lineal middleweight championship.