The location is set.
WBC/WBA/IBF/IBO Middleweight World Champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs) will defend his titles against Canelo Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) in their much-anticipated rematch on May 5 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It’s the same venue where the first fight took place in September 2017. That fight ended in a controversial draw which almost necessitated a rematch.
The rematch will be broadcast live by HBO Pay-Per-View at 8 p.m. ET. Tickets for the event will go on sale Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 10 a.m. ET. The pay-per-view cost hasn’t been announced, but the ticket prices will range from $300 to $5,000. There will be a limit of 10 per person at $5,000, $2,000, $1,500, $800 and $700 with a limit of two per person at the $500 and $300 price levels.
Canelo has performed at T-Mobile Arena three times and according to the press release, he’s looking forward to the fourth time.
“I am happy to return for the fourth time at T-Mobile Arena for this historic rematch against [Gennady] Golovkin,” said Canelo. “I opened the doors of this place to the world of boxing, and it has become my favorite venue. This is where the fight started, and this is where I’ll end it by doing what I and my fans most desire: knocking him out.”
Golovkin feels he was robbed during the first fight, but he vows to take the decision out of the judges’ hands in the rematch.
“It feels right that the rematch returns to the scene of the crime,” said Golovkin. “This time there will be no drama with a decision. I won the first fight and left the ring as world champion wearing all the belts. And I am going to win the second fight. It is going to be a record fight and a golden night for me and boxing at T-Mobile Arena.”
With no Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight to steal the attention from his fight this time around, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya sounds excited about the potential turnout and engagement from fight fans.
De La Hoya said, “There is no better place to host the historic rematch between Canelo and Golovkin than T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Las Vegas on a fight weekend during Cinco de Mayo is electric, and I know fans will travel from around the world to be here to participate in the celebratory atmosphere. Historic boxing matches like Canelo vs. GGG 2 belong in a place like Las Vegas, which offers fans the full and rich experience they are looking for on a big fight weekend.”
Golovkin’s promoter Tom Loeffler took a shot at Canelo and his approach to the first fight with his quote:
“The last time they met in the ring, the tie went to the runner — Canelo Alvarez,” said Tom Loeffler, promoter of Golovkin. “I think there is only one place to settle this dispute between the two best middleweights. The most appropriate place for the rematch is back at T-Mobile Arena. The venue was a sensational host to Team Golovkin and the fans were terrific. We’ll see if T-Mobile Arena remains Canelo’s favorite venue after he becomes Gennady’s twentieth and record-tying title defense.”
The first fight had its moments but it was mostly uneventful. If both men are indeed intent on knocking the other one out, we should see more action. In any case, it would appear we could be headed for a trilogy.
