Canelo closes GGG trilogy with decisive victory

LAS VEGAS — After the final bell and 36 rounds together, Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin shared a long embrace, apparently ending a feud that grew personal over the five years since they first met in the ring.

In yet another close fight, Alvarez retained his undisputed super middleweight championship Saturday at T-Mobile Arena with a unanimous decision victory over his longtime rival in a trilogy bout before a raucous pro-Alvarez crowd on Mexican Independence Day Weekend.

Two judges scored it 115-113 for Alvarez, while a third judge had it 116-112.

Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs) started strong while Golovkin worked his jab and barely threw his powerful right hand, the punch that launched him to stardom and a legendary middleweight championship run. Finally, down the stretch, Golovkin found his footing and won four of the final five rounds on two scorecards, but it was too little, too late.

While they hugged, Alvarez told Golovkin, “Thank you so much, my friend. Thank you for everything. We give the fans three good fights.”

The pleasantries were in stark contrast to the prefight buildup, when Alvarez vowed to end Golovkin’s career with a knockout victory. He even called Golovkin (42-2-1, 37 KOs) a phony who pretends to be a nice person.

Now, with the dust settled and the rivalry concluded, the fighters head in separate directions.

Alvarez, who owns all four 168-pound belts, could pursue a rematch with Dmitry Bivol next year to even the score from May, when Bivol routed him via decision.

However, an injury to his left wrist coul