Canelo vs. GGG is almost here. After years of anticipation, Gennady “Triple G” Golovkin will finally face Canelo Alvarez at the sold-out T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, in what many boxing fans consider the best fight of 2017.
Soon, we’re going to find out who is the best middleweight boxer in the world. Here’s everything you need to know about the Canelo vs. GGG fight on HBO Boxing PPV (all times Eastern).
Canelo vs. GGG fight date, time, PPV price
The Canelo vs. GGG fight is set for Saturday, Sept. 16, on HBO Boxing. The PPV broadcast begins at 8 p.m. Alvarez and Golovkin are expected to enter the ring around 10:30 p.m. Canelo vs. GGG will air on HBO pay-per-view at 9 p.m. and will cost $79.99 in HD. You can also stream the Canelo vs. GGG fight live online at ringtv.com for $79.99.
Canelo vs. GGG records, tale of the tape
Golovkin (37-0, 33 KOs) has made 18 consecutive title defenses of the middleweight crown, and is two fights away from tying the mark of the legendary Bernard Hopkins, who made 20 consecutive defenses.
This will be the first time Canelo (49-1-1, 34 KOs) has competed at 160 pounds. He’s won seven consecutive bouts since losing to Floyd Mayweather by majority decision in 2013.
Canelo vs. GGG fight preview
Canelo vs. GGG is a fight two years in the making. Canelo won the WBC middleweight title from Miguel Cotto back in Nov. 2015, and then-promoter Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions, were reluctant to make the fight with Triple G.
Canelo’s camp wanted more time for Alvarez to grow into being a true 160-pound fighter, but the whispers in boxing was De La Hoya didn’t want his golden goose to be in any potential danger of losing a fight.
Fans grew impatient, but the wrongs were righted May ’16, when Canelo knocked out Amir Khan and brought Golovkin into the ring. Canelo said he was ready to fight. De La Hoya puffed out his chest and said he would talk with Golovkin’s manager/advisor Tom Loeffler, famously telling him to have his phone ready.
Boxing fans were overjoyed and relieved that the Canelo vs. GGG fight was in the works, but the fight De La Hoya had teased was still far away: A verbal agreement was allegedly in place for a Sept. 2017 date. Fans doubted “The Golden Boy,” not wanting to wait another 15 months for the fight between two of the hardest punchers in the sport.
Golovkin trudged on, knocking former welterweight champion Kell Brook last September and winning by unanimous decision over former 160-pound titleholder Daniel Jacobs in March. Canelo matched Golovkin by knocking out Liam Smith (also in Sept. 2016) to win the WBO junior middleweight title. He followed by dominating Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in May.