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Alvarez (L) faces Golovkin this weekend

Golovkin v Alvarez preview: Free boxing betting tips and odds

08:26 · SUN September 17, 2017

Our tipster Simon Crawford is backing Gennady Golovkin to maintain his 100 per cent record when he faces Saul Alvarez this weekend.

So finally it has arrived ... the biggest match-up in boxing this year.

And I'm certainly not talking about Floyd Mayweather taking on Conor McGregor.

Arguably the two best fighters currently in the middleweight division lock horns on Saturday night as Gennady Golovkin faces Saul Alvarez in Las Vegas.

It's a match-up boxing fans worldwide have been clamouring for and for some considerable time, one Alvarez was even accused of avoiding. But now it's on and I don't see it being even remotely possible that this scrap will not live up to the hype.

The pair have boxed 84 professional fights between them, with 67 won inside the distance - so how can this not be a classic?

Kazakhstan-born Golovkin (37-0, 33KOs) has campaigned at middleweight throughout his career so is the naturally bigger man physically, but at 35 he is defending his IBF, IBO, WBA 'super' and WBC world belts against a challenger eight years his junior.

Mexican Alvarez (49-1-1, 34KOs) was just 15 when he had his first contest in the paid ranks and has gone on to be a three-time world champion in two weight divisions - light-middleweight and middleweight.

The only defeat on his slate came at the hands of Mayweather back in 2013, when he suffered a convincing points defeat - no disgrace in that.

You would have to say he has improved considerably since being schooled that night, but in Golovkin faces the most heavy-handed opponent of his career.

Gennady Golovkin arrives in Las Vegas

Stylistically it should gel perfectly.

Golovkin boasts a formidable 89 per cent knockout ratio. But don't be fooled into thinking he is just a puncher as he possesses superb footwork which allows him to cut off the ring to pressure his opponent and set up his attacks.

Defence is not his greatest attribute and there is no doubt that Alvarez will hit him, but GGG has proved time after time that he has a solid chin and is more than happy to take a shot if it means he can throw a counter in reply.

"I want to win this fight because for me this win will be like a history fight, like (Sugar Ray) Leonard versus (Marvin) Hagler," said Golovkin. "And Canelo (Alvarez), he's a very special guy. Right now for us it's huge. Especially for me, it's huge.

"The story of the middleweight division, it's a long story. I remember a lot of great champions like Carlos Monzon, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler and Bernard Hopkins.

“Right now I think new stories, new times for us. So many stories are huge in the middleweight division. To be a champion is huge."

Alvarez has a 67 per cent knockout ratio so does have power, but I feel he is technically better than Golovkin in terms of how he sets up combinations which he delivers with lightning speed and, above all, accuracy.

His body shots are particularly hurtful so it will be interesting to see how he gets in and out of range to land his shots without getting tagged.

"I know what I have in front of me," said Alvarez. "I know he's a strong fighter. He is the most dangerous opponent of my career, but I'm ready for him and what's next to come. That's why we prepared, and also to give the fans a beautiful fight.

"This fight is for all the fans who have been asking for it. We know that in fights, it takes two to tango. I'm ready, and you know what you'll get from me. Let's just hope he brings it as well.

"Without a doubt, our fight on Saturday will be one of the great fights in the history of boxing. Golovkin will bring out the best in me."

Much has been made made of Golovkin's last fight which saw him outpoint Daniel Jacobs back in March. Many felt GGG was showing signs of age and that his power was not at the levels of what it once was.

That could certainly be the case.

But what if I suggest that Golovkin knew the Alvarez fight was on the cards so decided to test himself by going the 12 rounds for the first time in his career, knowing full well he could open up if he felt he was in trouble or behind on the cards?

It's a risky strategy, of course, but for me Golovkin is a boxing genius and he knew he was in for potentially the toughest test of his career so far against Alvarez.

Now he knows he can do the 12 rounds against a quality opponent and have his arm raised at the end of it - that must fill him with huge confidence.

My biggest concern for Alvarez is weight. He has campaigned for much of his stellar career as a big light-middleweight (154lbs), although his last fight - a facile points win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in May - was made at a catchweight of 164.5lbs.

I have my doubts that he can carry the necessary power needed to trouble Golovkin up to 160lbs. Of course he could wear him down, but it will take a monumental effort to shut GGG out and do enough work to also win rounds.

Saul Alvarez is put through his paces

So I'm siding with Golovkin who is the pre-fight favourite. It is being described by some as a 50/50 clash, but GGG's unbeaten record and punching power must surely give him the edge against any opponent.

It's just a question of trying to plot how the fight will unfold.

My gut feeling is that fight is going to be very close, with Golovkin's granite fists giving him a slight edge with even his jab a concussive punch.

Alvarez is a counter puncher, while Golovkin is a pressure fighter who never stops coming forward so there should be non-stop action.

I feel there will be at least one knockdown along the way but both these fighters are teak tough so I am sure the fight will go the distance.

Alvarez will look to make a busy start, getting off those eye-catching combinations to try to knock Golovkin out of his stride.

It may well work for a time, but it will be tiring and once that happens Golovkin will come to the fore.

If Alvarez is unable to put a dent in GGG's armour, then he is in big trouble because he needs to find a way to slow the Kazakh down.

But as already mentioned, those 12 rounds Golovkin went against Jacobs could prove to be priceless in this one and I see him taking a points victory which is generally available at 7/2.

One price that has caught my eye and I think is worthy of a small wager is the 16/1 being offered by Ladbokes and Coral for Golovkin to win via a split decision.

In a close fight, it's remarkable how one judge can see things differently and the odds are generous for it to happen again.