Saúl Canelo Álvarez has comfortably beaten long-time rival Gennady Golovkin, putting a full stop on their at-times controversial trilogy of fights.
All three judges gave the Mexican a unanimous decision victory but by a bafflingly narrow margin in line with the controversial scoring that blighted the previous two fights.
One judge scored it 116-112, but the other two only had Canelo winning by a painfully narrow score of 115-113.
It was clear to most observers though that in the ring the highly anticipated fight — to end one of boxing's greatest modern rivalries — was something of a mismatch and never lived up to the lofty expectations fostered upon it.
Canelo outboxed Golovkin through the opening half of the contest, with the challenger looking every bit his 40 years of age, tentative and hesitant with his once dominant jab.
Canelo's electric movement and brutal power were evident from the off, with the Mexican toying with Golovkin to the delight of the thousands of Mexican supporters in the crowd.
"He is a really good fighter," Canelo said of Golovkin.
"I am glad to share the ring with him."
Whether it was Golovkin's age or the step up to super middleweight for the first time — where Canelo is undisputed champion — Golovkin looked a shadow of his former self, only getting into the contest in the closing rounds when he was able to throw caution to the wind.
Coming off a defeat at light heavyweight to Dimitrii Bivol, Canelo looked excellent for the majority of the fight, but did slow down late on and was caught repeatedly in the closing stages.
Golovkin, a unified champion at middleweight, said after the fight that he would continue to box on after suffering just his second career defeat to move to 42-2-1.
"Today, Canelo is better," Golovkin said after the fight, once the pair put the animosity aside and shared an embrace in the ring.
"He is a real warrior. If you don't understand, you don't understand nothing."
Canelo (58-2-2) answered the critics that said he lost the first two fights between the pair — a draw and a narrow split-decision victory — although must contend that the four-year-gap between fights severely diminished his opponent.
He retained his WBA, WBO, IBF, WBC and The Ring super middleweight titles.
Look back on how all the action unfolded at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in our blog.
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By Simon Smale
We'll wrap things up here
Canelo was just too strong and powerful at his preferred weight, while Golovkin looked every minute of his 40 years in a tentative and disappointing display.
Canelo remains king, the promoters and box office keepers will be happy that the story goes on.
Thanks very much for joining us today and being a part of our coverage.
We'll be back soon for more from the squared circle.
Good evening.
By Simon Smale
Should the overall tally between the two should be more even?
It doesn’t matter now and never will. The Fan has the first meeting between these two and 5 years ago yesterday to the day Golovkin gave Alvarez a lesson and yet boxing judges deem it a draw. The fans know the real result and Alvarez does as well.
- Sweet Art and Science Fan.
The record books will say Canelo holds a 2-0-1 record in this trilogy.
Observers will know that's possibly unfair, but that's the crazy sport we're invested in.
By Simon Smale
Canelo targets Bivol next
Canelo says afterwards that his next target is Bivol.
He adds that he needs some more time though to heal his hand.
By Simon Smale
GGG: 'He is a real warrior'
Here's Golovkin.
"Everybody knows this is high level class," he says.
"Everybody knows that one bad step, you lose the fight.
"His face is so clean because he is so high level."
How was this fight different?
"More tactic .. today Canelo is better," he says.
He says the second half resurgence was tactical.
He adds that there is no more beef between the pair and that it was just sport.
The 40-year-old says he has "great plans" and that he still has three belts at middleweight.
"He is a real warrior. If you don't understand, you don't understand nothing."
By Simon Smale
Canelo thanks GGG
Here is Canelo.
"Thank you so much my friend, " he says.
"Thank you Golovkin. We have given the fans three good fights."
He then thanks the crowd in Spanish.
The rough translation, thank you for all your support.
I have gone through some tough times in my life and the only thing you can do is try and continue and to move forward.
I have shown defeats are great, it enables you to come back and show humility.
"He is a really good fighter," he says.
"I am glad to share the ring with him."
He says that he has had a hand injury and that he cannot hold a glass.
He says that GGG's late resurgence was not a surprise.
By Simon Smale
Saúl Canelo Álvarez wins by unanimous decision
This is madness.
116-112 on one scorecard and 115-113 on the other two. Are you kidding me?
That fight was not close.
The judges decided it was, and that's near farcical.
But then, perhaps it wouldn't be a contest between these two without those strange, strange scores.
For the record, I had it 116-112, with GGG winning the last four rounds.
By Simon Smale
Canelo vs GGG, Round 12
Final round.
GGG needs a knockout that looks incredibly unlikely.
Triple G is jabbing.
Both men are untidly brawling, landing to the body.
Will Canelo look for the knockout?
Double jab to the chest from Canelo after a GGG shot landed.
They graple.
No urgency from GGG.
Three jabs all land from GGG, but there's nothing to back it up and really hurt Canelo.
The pair grapple again.
And again, the referee has his work cut out here.
GGG is jabbing, avoiding being hit - boy won't be like those opening six rounds back.
GGG lands to the body.
A late flurry, that felt a little half-hearted in all honesty as the pair embrace at the finale.
They stand together, head-to-head, talking.
The fight is over, the trilogy is over, and Canelo should have recorded a comfortable win on the scorecards.
By Simon Smale
Canelo vs GGG, Round 11
Was that a glove tap from GGG? Perhaps acknowledging the headbut at the end of the last round.
GGG the aggressor now, landing shots to the body of Canelo.
But now Canelo fights back!
It's a bit more of a brawl to start this round.
Canelo landing power shots to the body.
GGG doubling and tripling up that jab.
There's a upper cut that just misses from GGG.
Good combo behind the jab from GGG.
Now there's another combo, the men are toe-to-toe and clinch a couple of times.
There's more activity, but still it's tentative stuff from GGG.
He doubles the jab again and forced Canelo back, who is bleeding from that cut quite freely now.
By Simon Smale
Canelo vs GGG, Round 10
Good jab from GGG, he's standing and delivering now.
Good left from Canelo to the head of GGG.
But now GGG lands and rocks the head back with the left hook!
Good jab from GGG, but he wears a power shot to the body.
Canelo with the jab, does he look weary now the Mexican?
Power shot to the liver from Canelo.
GGG with an upper cut that lands. It's not enough power though.
Nice jab catches Canelo.
GGG comes forward again and lands with the jabs, but then clinches.
Canelo looks for the upper cut after being caught.
Good left hook from GGG.
Three jabs from GGG! That's the stuff that made him such a devastating fighter.
There's been an accidental head but, not sure by whom on whom. I think it's GGG on Canelo.
By Simon Smale
Canelo vs GGG, Round 9
Signs of life from GGG now?
He is the aggressor now. He's landed a couple of shots.
Oh good response from Canelo, to the body either side as the who men stand in close.
GGG with a good upper cut, but Canelo follows up with an overhand right.
A combo from Canelo, but now GGG gets a combo going.
Hang on, GGG is letting fly and he backed Canelo up!
It may be the death throes of this bout, a final stand, but GGG is starting to fire.
It looks more deliberate, but GGG is starting to land!
Big right from Canelo in response!
This is a better round, GGG finally bursting into life and that might be the first he's won of the night.
It's not going to be enough, but he did back the champ up a couple of times there.
By Simon Smale
A sad end to the rivalry
Obviously Money Rules, this again shows why there should be a world governing body forcing titleholders to defend such titles against highest rated challengers within appropriate time instead of seeing a 40 year old man against 32 y/o who has avoided as long as possible. Now only $$ has bought this sham about.
- Sweet Art and Science Fan.
I have to say, I agree.
GGG looks like a 40-year-old in there. This fight three years ago would be very different.
By Simon Smale
Canelo vs GGG, Round 8
I have Canelo winning every round so far.
He chases down GGG with an overhand right.
GGG does well to avoid a couple of shots that Canelo threw from the base of his feet, so much power.
GGG tentatively pushes out a couple of jabs, but there needs to be more. So much more.
Canelo pounces with a big right.
Both men then land with a good left simultaneously.
Canelo edges forward but doesn't land clean.
GGG lands to the head.
Now an upper cut to the body on the counter from Canelo.
GGG stands in close and pushes a few punches in.
GGG has Canelo up against the ropes as the Mexican looks to counter, a very GGG tactic.
That's been better from GGG, but nowhere near enough.
By Simon Smale
Canelo vs GGG, Round 7
Jabs land from Canelo.
GGG looks for that upper cut again in close, the distance management has been abandoned and now the men are much closer - is that the tactic that will get GGG back into the fight?
GGG misses with the jab but lands to the body, Canelo too gets a shot away that lands.
Canelo is in the centre of the ring, GGG looks for the upper cut.
A right lands from Canelo, who is stalking his long-time rival.
GGG tries a combo and misses with all three.
It's like he's going through the motions at the moment.
Canelo misses with a couple of wild overhand rights.
He lands that time though and is just dominating this fight.
By Simon Smale
Canelo vs GGG, Round 6
More power punches from Canelo.
He is so dialed in at the moment, his movement looks superior, his power is certainly superior.
It's a mismatch.
Canelo is trying to land a knockout blow, but can't quite catch GGG, who is on the run.
Now Canelo is working the body.
GGG still looks so tentative in landing those shots, like he is questioning whether he should be throwing them at all.
Oh that's a nice upper cut from GGG, that might be a shot that works.
GGG has stopped throwing jabs as well now. He's still moving well, but only the torso, the feet are static.
Golovkin needs a big change to occur if he's a chance in the second half of this fight.
By Simon Smale
Canelo vs GGG, Round 5
In the corner, GGG was told to believe in what he's worked on and to throw his shots.
Triple G lands with a couple of repeat jabs and forced Canelo back.
Canelo brings the power though and lands to the body.
They get in close and clinch.
Canelo is landing to the arms of GGG, a genuine tactic he uses and has used.
GGG tries a jab, misses. And again.
That's a better shot though from GGG, finally catching Canelo.
Canelo with more elusiveness as GGG tries to land to the head.
He tries another flurry of jabs.
BANG! HUGE OVERHAND RIGHT FROM CANELO!
Wow that's a massive shot.
GGG nodded at Canelo at the end of the round in acknowledgement and he felt that, you know it.
He did wear it though and didn't look rocked.
By Simon Smale
Canelo vs GGG, Round 4
GGG is heavily marked on the face already.
Canelo has just been too quick and too strong.
Double short hook to the body and head from Canelo lands, and he works that shot again.
Canelo misses the wild left hook.
He lands that time though and GGG again is forced back, a beautiful overhand right.
This could get ugly pretty soon, Canelo is overpowering the 40-year-old badly.
There's some cute little tap shots from Golovkin in close but Canelo lands hard in response.
Right, left, right from GGG, all land.
GGG looks for the head, Canelo leaps away and bends his back.
Big body shot from Canelo, it was blocked but sounded like a sack of wet meat being slammed against a kitchen counter.
There's real power in those shots and, at the moment, GGG looks powerless to resist.
By Simon Smale
Canelo vs GGG, Round 3
Canelo to the body, forces GGG to block but he'd have still felt that.
Canelo lands and then gets tangled with GGG.
Canelo comes forward again and the crowd responds to their favourite's aggression.
GGG jabs, but there's not much contact being made, if any.
GGG attempts a short checked hook.
Lovely combo from Canelo forces GGG into a quick retreat.
GGG lands a jab but Canelo forces him back.
Jab from GGG lands on the gloves, Canelo responds and forces GGG back.
Jab to the body from GGG, but Canelo lands to the head.
Good jab from Canelo to end the round, as GGG misses with a hook.
He looks a little uncertain out there at the moment, just as he did against Ryota Murata last time out.
By Simon Smale
Canelo vs GGG, Round 2
GGG comes up to the centre of the ring.
He was too quiet in that first round.
Canelo catches GGG with a jab and then rocks the head back with a left hook that draws a response from the crowd.
Good jab from GGG, rocking Canelo back as he came in.
Canelo is the aggressor, but GGG is moving away nicely. Good range control.
Jab from GGG lands.
Another good jab lands, not hard, but enough to make Canelo aware.
Jab from Canelo, and then GGG as well.
Good jab once more from Canelo, no combos at the moment being thrown.
GGG with a good shot but he's caught again and then Canelo comes forward and lands nicely to the body, forcing Golovkin back.
Good overhand right from Canelo lands.
GGG with a double jab forces Canelo to spring back.
Canelo wears another jab on the gloves to end the round.
Not easy to score, but Canelo has the edge so far.
By Simon Smale
Canelo vs GGG, Round 1
OK, here we go.
The atmosphere is electric in the arena, it's intense in the ring.
This feels huge. It is huge.
Here we go.
Canelo with the jab and a wild swinging left from Canelo misses, GGG lands with the jab.
Right hook for Canelo to the body.
A double left hook as Canelo advances.
Jabs from Golovkin, Canelo landed with the hook and is swinging the right hook a lot early! Aiming for head and body, but mostly the head.
Another left hook from Canelo misses as GGG backs away.
Tentative jabs from GGG, Canelo is moving well, making the Kazakh miss.
"MEXICO, MEXICO, MEXICO!," is the call as the men shadow each other.
GGG lands a jab, and lands another but is caught by the same.
Canelo with the jab to the head.
A tentative start, Canelo perhaps the better of the limited action.
By Simon Smale
Canelo vs GGG, tale of the tape
Saúl Canelo Álvarez (MEX)
Undisputed IBF, WBC, WBO, WBA and The Ring super middleweight champion
Pro record: 57-2-2 (39 KOs)
Age: 32
Height: 173cm
Reach: 179cm
Weight: 167.4lb (75.9kg)
Gennady Golovkin
IBF, WBA middleweight champion
Pro record: 42-1-1 (37 KOs)
Age: 40
Height: 179cm
Reach: 178cm
Weight: 167.8lb (76.1kg)
