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A22 SPORTS
Monday 17 SepteMber 2018
Close win means Alvarez and Golovkin could do it again

Continued from Page 18 fight that he was angry with
Golovkin over his beliefs
Alvarez and Golovkin that Alvarez was juiced for
showcased their skills — their first fight, and would try
and their sport — at the and knock him out. But few
highest level in a fight that believed he would be the
one judge scored a draw aggressor in a fight against
and two others had Alvarez a boxer with big power in
by a narrow 115-113 score. both hands.
Both fighters thought they He was just that, though, in
had won. Both fighters a spirited fight that had no
probably deserved a win. knockdowns but plenty of
But it was Alvarez, the Mexi- action. Alvarez controlled
can hero, who proudly car- the middle rounds as Triple
ried the belts out of the ring G seemed to tire, but Go-
after a bruising 12 rounds lovkin fans thought their
that ended with both fight- fighter pulled it out late.
ers bloodied and bruised Alvarez said afterward that
before a roaring crowd of he wanted to fight again
21,965. in December, and could
“It’s one of the happiest against David Lemieux, the
days of my life,” said Alva- Canadian who scored a
rez, who fought Golovkin to first-round knockout over
a draw a year earlier and Canelo Alvarez, left, and Gennady Golovkin embrace after a middleweight title boxing match, Ireland’s Gary O’Sullivan
had to deal with a positive Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Las Vegas. Alvarez won by majority decision. on the undercard. With the
test for a performance en- Associated Press lure of big money in a third
hancing drug while prepar- Golovkin said. “It was a tough to win a decision 622. fight with Golovkin, the two
ing for the rematch. fight of two champions to- in an arena packed with Unlike many close deci- could meet again in May
It wasn’t so happy for Go- night.” Alvarez fans on Mexican sions in boxing, though, for a trilogy that is rare in
lovkin, the slugger from Indeed it was, as Alvarez Independence Day week- there was no huge outcry, boxing these days.
Kazakhstan who for years abandoned his strategy end. largely because the fight For now, though, Alvarez
walked through whoever from the first fight to box “I don’t know if we can win was almost too close to can celebrate his biggest
was put in front of him. moving forward against a decision in Las Vegas,” call. win at a crucial time in his
Golovkin rallied in the final Golovkin. It was a risky strat- Loeffler said. “It was me who pushed him career as he tries to ce-
rounds to make the fight egy but paid off — though Ringside punch stats back, me who was most ment his status as a storied
close, only to listen in dis- just barely. showed a close fight, aggressive,” Alvarez said Mexican fighting great.
belief once again as he Though Triple G and his though they favored Go- through an interpreter. “Un- “It’s very important for me
wasn’t declared the win- handlers were careful not lovkin by a small margin. fortunately we didn’t get to have a victory for my
ner. to criticize the decision, Golovkin was credited with the knockout, but we got country,” he said. “This vic-
“I feel like I’m a champion promoter Tom Loeffler ad- landing 234 of 879 punches the victory.” tory will give a lot of pride
but he’s also a champion,” mitted later that it was while Alvarez landed 203 of Alvarez said before the to my country.”q

Islanders beat Flyers 3-0 at Nassau Coliseum

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) — 15 before they moved to
Kieffer Bellows and Cal Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Clutterbuck scored power- Awaiting a new arena at
play goals in the first period Belmont Park, the Islanders
to help the New York Island- will split games between
ers beat the Philadelphia Nassau Coliseum and Bar-
Flyers 3-0 on Sunday in the clays Center. This season,
preseason opener for both they will play 20 of their 41
teams. Bellows opened the home games at Nassau
scoring at 6:55, and Clutter- Coliseum.
buck connected with 4:14 BRUINS 2, CAPITALS 1, SO
left in the period. Sebas- In Boston, Zane McIntyre
tian Aho added a second- made 21 saves in Boston’s
period goal. Robin Lehner victory over Stanley Cup
and Christopher Gibson champion Washington.
split time in goal, with Leh- Jakub Lauko scored for the
ner making eight saves and Bruins in the first period, and
Gibson stopping nine shots. Brett Connolly tied it in the
Anthony Stolarz stopped second. Danton Heinen
13 of 15 shots in his half of had the only goal in the
the game, and Alex Lyon shootout. Pheonix Copley
stopped nine of 10 shots. and Vitek Vanecek split
The game was played at time in goal for Washing-
the refurbished Nassau Col- New York Islanders Kieffer Bellows, (20) celebrates with team mates after scoring, during the first ton. Copley stopped 21 of
iseum, the Islanders’ home period of a preseason NHL hockey game against Philadelphia Flyers in New York, Sunday, Sept. 22, and Vanecek stopped
from 1972-73 through 2014- 16, 2018. all 12 shots he faced.q
Associated Press