LAS VEGAS — When Canelo Alvarez was awarded a surprising draw against Gennady Golovkin on this Mexican Independence Day weekend last year, there was heavy-duty controversy.
But this time, in another hard-fought battle, Alvarez claimed a majority decision victory in the year’s biggest fight to take the unified middleweight world championship from Golovkin on Saturday night before a crowd of 21,965 at sold-out T-Mobile Arena.
Alvarez’s victory ended Golovkin’s undefeated run and his historic 160-pound title reign at a division-record 20 defenses, which he shares with Golden Boy Promotions partner Bernard Hopkins. Hopkins was ringside and had made no secret in the lead-up to the fight that he wanted his man to win not only for the sake of the company but for his record.
Judges Dave Moretti and Steve Weisfeld scored the fight 115-113 for Alvarez, and Glenn Feldman scored it 114-114. ESPN.com also scored it 114-114.