No controversy this time: Canelo Alvarez defeats Gennadiy Golovkin

Canelo Alvarez remained the undisputed super middleweight champion with a 12-round unanimous decision over Gennadiy Golovkin. 

Scores were 116-112, 115-113 twice.  

Maxboxing scored the fight 117-111 for Alvarez.

In a cagey opening stanza, Alvarez moved to his left and eyed Golovkin.  Alvarez fired left hooks. Golovkin jabbed and jabbed. Neither landed anything solid. 

The younger Alvarez connected with a sweeping left hook in round two. Golovkin was content to fire jabs. Alvarez landed an overhand right. Golovkin with a left hook. The first two rounds were close.

In round three, Alvarez connected to the body and head. Golovkin stuck out his left. Alvarez caught Golovkin with a left and right to the body. His jab also scored several times. Golovkin fired multiple jabs in round four. Alvarez scored with a combination. His edge in hand speed was obvious. 

Alvarez pushed Golovkin back in round five. The WBA and IBF middleweight champion wasn’t doing enough. Alvarez, in complete control, clipped his chin with a solid right hand. A left hook missed Golovkin’s chin by a whisker in round six.

Golovkin scored with two rights. Alvarez fought back. Golovkin connected with an uppercut. Perhaps he won that round. 

Alvarez clipped Golovkin with a right in round seven. Golovkin moved away but didn’t punch. Alvarez popped him with hooks and jabs. In round eight, Alvarez cuffed Golovkin with a left. 

Golovkin jabbed but didn’t land. Alvarez is edgy quick. Golovkin couldn’t cope - his punches lacked their old snap.

Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs) came out firing left hooks in round nine. The Mexican champion went to the gut. Golovkin finally let fly with several right hands. One of them backed up Alvarez. 

Golovkin (42-2-1, 37 KOs) fired hooks in round 10 while Alvarez fought back with uppercuts and a body shot. Golovkin landed his own clean uppercut in round 11.

Alvarez rocked forward. Both champions connected with shots in the 12th and final round. Golovkin needed to knockout to win, but he didn’t have it in him. Alvarez’s speed and youth were too much.