Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin rematch set for May 5

A rematch of one of the best and biggest boxing encounters of 2017 has been set.

Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin will meet again on May 5, it was announced by broadcast distributor HBO on Monday. The two top middleweights fought to an exciting, controversial split draw back in September.

No city or venue has been announced yet. The card will air at 8 p.m. ET on HBO Pay-Per-View. The matchup last year took place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Many watching Sept. 16 believed Golovkin won the fight. But two of the judges felt otherwise, including a highly controversial 118-110 score given to Alvarez by judge Adalaide Byrd.

“I’m delighted to once again participate in one of the most important boxing events in history,” Alvarez said in the release.

“This second fight is for the benefit and pleasure of all fans who desire to see the best fight the best. This time, [Gennady] Golovkin won’t have any excuses regarding the judges because I’m coming to knock him out.”

Golovkin, who holds the WBC, WBA, IBF and IBO Middleweight titles, thought he won the first fight.

“I am ready to battle Canelo again and am happy he took this fight again,” Golovkin said. “This is the fight the world wants. This is the fight boxing deserves. I didn’t agree with some of the judges’ decisions in the first fight. This time there will be no doubt. I am leaving the ring as THE middleweight champion of the world.”

The event will be co-promoted by Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, who promotes Alvarez, and Golovkin’s promoter Tom Loeffler. The bout will take place on the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo, which has particular significance for Alvarez, who hails from Mexico, and Golovkin, who is trained by Mexican coach Abel Sanchez and touts his Mexican style of fighting.