Weighing in: Local boxing figures lean toward Gennady Golovkin against Canelo Alvarez
There’s always a certain buzz when a big fight rolls around.
So when middleweight champions Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez step into the ring for their much-anticipated rematch Saturday night from Las Vegas, it’s a safe bet that many of the biggest names in local boxing will be glued to their TVs, as well.
On Friday, a few weighed in with predictions:
Chauncy Welliver (Former heavyweight champ whose next fight is Oct. 13 at the Coeur d’Alene Casino’s House of Fury. He’s also owner of Spokane’s Box-Fit gym): There’s more questions than answers, and that’s what makes it the magnitude it is. I think there are a few different scenarios to this fight: 1) Canelo really did take (performing-enhancing drugs) leading into the last event and that’s why he took those amazing shots of Triple G. This time, under a very watchful eye, I’m going to assume he’s not taking (PEDs) and cannot hold up. 2) The true “Mexican” in Canelo comes out and he tries to fight more than box, and he’s in trouble and loses the fight by KO. 3) Triple G really has aged, as he has shown in his last few fights, and gets outboxed by the younger, fresher opponent, in which Canelo wins by decision. 4) Triple G is fueled by Canelo’s (alleged PED use) last time and comes out furious and wins by KO.
Pat Ferguson (Current cruiserweight fighter and former USA Boxing National Champion, also scheduled to fight on Oct. 13 at the House of Fury): I can’t call it as far as which fighter will win. I do think it will go to a decision.
Ray Kerwick (President of the Inland Northwest Boxing Association and owner of Howard Street Boxing Club): They’re both saying it won’t go the distance. I think Triple G is going to beat him, and if he does, it will probably happen in the ninth or 10th round.
Frank Vassar (Retired Spokane light heavyweight fighter and National Golden Gloves winner, now living in Choctaw, Oklahoma): Canelo seems to have a lot more power, but Triple G is a technical expert. In the last fight, both fighters were trying not to get hit. They were both playing it safe. Canelo has speed and power working for him. My prediction is, if it ends in under eight rounds, Canelo will win. If it goes over nine and up, Triple G will win. Triple G comes at angles and has a lot of power with his short punches. Those short punches will be really effective after round eight.
Rick Welliver (Former light heavyweight fighter and owner of Spokane Boxing): I think (Golovkin) is going to beat him. I think the evidence showed that Canelo was jacked from (PEDs), from the pictures, and everything about the way he looked. (Golovkin’s) got more tools. I think Triple G will stop him late. You’re seeing two natural middleweights, one is just physically bigger. And I think on a level playing field, with no performance-enhancing drugs, that matters. You know who ultimately wins? Boxing. It’ll be the biggest pay-per-view event of the year.
Jim Bollé