Mexico was planted in Las Vegas and Saúl «Canelo»Álvarez met the thousands of compatriots who showed up at the T-Mobile Arena by becoming the new world middleweight champion by majority decision against Kazakh Gennady Golovkin.
Álvarez dominated the fight in the first rounds and managed to contain his opponent in the second part of the fight to win the points with cards of 115-113, 115-113 and 114-114 to take his country the belts of the World Boxing Council (WBC), the World Boxing Association (WBA) and the International Boxing Organization (OIB).
“I am not just any rival, I am an elite fighter and tonight I showed it,” said the winner after the match.
“If people want a third fight, they will have it,” he warned.
It was the fight of the year, everyone knew it and nobody wanted to miss it: not basketball legends like LeBron James or Scottie Pippen; consecrated actors like Will Smith or Denzel Washington, or legendary ex-boxers like Mike Tyson, Juan Manuel Márquez and Julio César Chávez.
– Las Vegas, capital of Mexico –
Dozens of posters, photographs and street sales of products related to the fight reminded us from early in the morning that it was an important day for the city. The MGM Grand hotel even raised its characteristic golden lion to the ring, becoming one of the most photographed places before the fight.
Thousands of fans had traveled to Nevada to experience the event in the first person, mostly Mexicans. Thus, men and women of all ages walked the streets of Las Vegas, under the scorching sun, wearing T-shirts and caps in support of Canelo, which they hoped to see triumph a few hours later.
Streets stained in green, white and red, waiting to see how his idol was crowned in the greatest possible fight. Against the best rival imaginable. Thus, amidst colors, flags and rancheras, the iconic “Tragos Amargos”, by Ramón Ayala and his Bravos del Norte, sounded to the joy of those present, who raved about the song.
Canelo He then entered with “Mexico, beautiful and dear,” and the stadium collapsed. The Aztec had said before the fight that he was going to knock out Golovkin and he went at it from the start, connecting several powerful combinations that the Kazakh was barely able to neutralize.
As the rounds went by, the battle leveled off and the Mexican even suffered in the end, but he had already done his homework before, adding the most important victory of his career.
– Victoria, a year later –
In September 2017, both had seen the faces, signing a controversial tie that had not pleased anyone.
So the cards were 118-110 for the Mexican, 115-113 for the Kazakh and 114-114.
The second fight, originally scheduled for May 5, had to be suspended due to two positives in February from Álvarez, who then blamed the results on the consumption of contaminated meat in his country.
However, months later, the Mexican broke Golovkin’s undefeated and consecrated himself on a stage that vibrated with each one of his punches.
“Yes it was possible,” his compatriots shouted excitedly, exulting at having been able to witness “the fight of the year” for the experts. AFP