Canelo, Golovkin rematch will take place this Saturday

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Kazakhstan's Gennady Golovkin (39-0-1, 34 KOs) and Mexico's Canelo Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) are set for a second showdown for the WBC middleweight world title at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday.

Their first 12-round fierce battle on September 16, 2017, ended in a controversial tie. 'GGG' Golovkin was credited with the better stats in total punches, jabs and power punches, while Canelo was said to have been slightly more accurate.

Gennady Golovkin punches Canelo Alvarez during their WBC, WBA and IBF middleweight championship bout at the T-Mobile Arena on September 16, 2017, in Las Vegas. /VCG Photo

The rematch – Golovkin's WBC mandatory defense against Canelo – should have occurred on May 5, 2018, but Canelo withdrew following two doping violations one month before the bout. As a consequence, he was handed a six-month ban from February.

Golovkin then refused to accept the challenges from other leading contenders. He knocked out the substitute Vanes Martirosyan, who had not fought for two years, in round two of a 12-rounder at the StubHub Center in Carson, California on June 6.

Gennady "GGG" Golovkin spars during a media workout before his fight against Canelo Alvarez at the Banc of California Stadium on August 26, 2018, in Los Angeles. /VCG Photo

After that easy win, Golovkin was stripped of his IBF middleweight title because he refused to make a mandatory defense against the dangerous Sergiy Derevyanchenko (12-0, 12KOs) of Ukraine within 90 days.

The 36-year-old Kazakh treats the rematch with the 28-year-old Mexican as the most important fight in his career, and the latter also has prepared seriously for the fight, in order to put the drug scandal behind him.

Canelo Alvarez works with his trainer during a media workout before his fight against Gennady "GGG" Golovkin at the Banc of California Stadium on August 26, 2018, in Los Angeles. /VCG Photo

Having learned from his last encounter, Golovkin may try to find knockout opportunities because of his inferior technique. On the contrary, the younger man should work more on his defense.

On September 8, in the seven-day weigh-in ahead of this much-anticipated rematch, Golovkin weighed in at 163.8 pounds and Canelo at 163.2 pounds. Both of them are expected to be in the 170s by the time they rehydrate for the match.

(Top image via VCG Photo)