Industry News

T-Mobile Arena confirmed for Alvarez-Golovkin rematch

T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas has seen off competition from New York’s Madison Square Garden to land hosting rights to the highly-anticipated middleweight boxing clash between Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin on May 5.

The pair met at T-Mobile Arena, which is located on the Las Vegas Strip, back in September. That match ended in a draw and Golovkin, of Kazakhstan, will now put his WBA, WBC and IBF titles on the line once more against Alvarez, who is from Mexico.

Tickets go on sale on February 27 and will be priced at $5,000 (£3,600/€4,000), $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800, $700, $500 and $300. There will be a limit of 10 tickets per person at the $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800 and $700 price levels with a limit of two per person at the $500 and $300 price levels.

Alvarez has fought at the arena three times since it opened in 2016. The venue also hosted last year’s ‘superfight’ between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor, and serves as the home of NHL ice hockey franchise the Vegas Golden Knights.

“I am happy to return for the fourth time at T-Mobile Arena for this historic rematch against Golovkin,” said Alvarez. “I opened the doors of this place to the world of boxing, and it has become my favourite 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 said: “It feels right that the rematch returns to the scene of the crime. 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.”

Oscar De La Hoya, chairman and chief executive of Golden Boy Promotions, added: “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.”

T-Mobile Arena was selected to host the first Alvarez-Golovkin fight amid reported interest from Madison Square Garden, London’s Wembley Stadium, Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, Los Angeles’ Dodgers Stadium, and Texas’ AT&T Stadium. Madison Square Garden reportedly put in an attractive offer for the rematch but T-Mobile Arena eventually won out.

Image: Tomás Del Coro