Boxing expert Teddy Atlas demonstrates what Gennady Golovkin needs to do to defeat Canelo Alvarez in their highly anticipated rematch. (0:48)

LAS VEGAS -- One year ago this Mexican Independence Day weekend, boxing fans got a fight we had longed for -- the long-awaited showdown between unified middleweight world champion Gennady Golovkin and former champion Canelo Alvarez. It was an event that matched two of the world's elite pound-for-pound fighters in a bout universally expected to be highly competitive and action-packed.

We had waited nearly two years for the showdown and when they finally met at the T-Mobile Arena they delivered an outstanding battle waged at the highest level, and one that did gangbusters business: 1.3 million pay-per-buys and a $27 million gate, third biggest in boxing history.

When the fight was over, most viewed GGG as a close-decision winner. Then came the horror of judge Adalaide Byrd's all-time horrendous 118-110 scorecard in favor of Alvarez. Combined with Dave Moretti's logical 115-113 card for Golovkin and Don Trella's 114-114 card, which on the surface looked reasonable but didn't stand up to a review of how it was arrived at because he gave the seventh round -- perhaps Golovkin's most dominant (one even Byrd gave GGG) -- to Alvarez. In the end, the fight was a less-than-satisfying draw and, after a hard negotiation, the rematch was set for May 5.

The promotion for the rematch was off to a strong start, but in February news broke that Alvarez tested positive for the performance-enhancing drug clenbuterol in voluntary Anti-Doping Association administered tests. Alvarez said it was because he ate contaminated meat in his native Mexico, but the fight was canceled and the Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended him for six months.

Golovkin (38-0-1, 34 KOs) lashed out at Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs), accusing him of using PEDs both for the 2017 fight and in preparation for the rematch. Golovkin went on to face replacement opponent Vanes Martirosyan on May 5 and drilled him in the second round, while the idle Alvarez had knee surgery to remove a bothersome cyst.

After a brutal renegotiation of terms, the rematch was put back together for Saturday (HBO PPV, 8 p.m. ET) -- once again at T-Mobile Arena -- but the respect Canelo and GGG once had for each other was gone. They sniped at each other nonstop and GGG continued to pound Alvarez about the failed tests, as did GGG trainer Abel Sanchez. It was so bad they refused to hold a joint news conference to announce the fight and wouldn't face off with each other at Wednesday's final prefight news conference.

"I have to win convincingly. It has to be a knockout to erase any doubts," Alvarez said. "I'm very motivated for this win. I'm confident, but not overconfident, about my opponent because I know who he is, but I'm confident in my preparation."

The rematch has become a grudge match of the highest order, and another tremendous action fight with stakes as high as ever is expected.

"If Canelo gives me a chance and fights like he claims he will, I will knock him out," Golovkin said. "It is time for the Big Drama Show."

This is your ESPN.com ringside seat for the fight.

It's personal

After a frustrating draw, a cancellation and a lot of bad blood, the rematch between Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez has finally arrived. AP Photo/John Locher

Golovkin has been upset since the first fight was declared a draw, believing he was robbed of the victory. Alvarez's failed drug tests gave Golovkin even more ornery. And Alvarez, insisting he hasn't used PEDs, feels wrongly accused.

Before the first fight, there was a genuine respect between them. It seemed as though they actually liked each other, and Golovkin spoke about seeing a time when they could go out to eat with each other and have their children play together. Those feelings are long gone.

"What I've always really wanted to do, I want to punish him," Golovkin said. "I want to have a fight and punish him for all the bad things that he and his team have done, so basically to put him and his team in their place.

"Was I upset that Canelo failed two drug tests? Yes, but I was more upset at Canelo's team. The excuses they gave, their attitude, and Canelo's reaction. It showed that they have no respect for the sport or the fans. They showed their real faces. They are fakes. I do not feel anger toward him because the rematch was canceled the first time, but I did lose all respect for him."

GGG has gone so far as to say he won't even shake Canelo's hand after the fight.

"Nobody knows how it's going to end, what's going to be the result, but nobody is going to congratulate anybody, that's for sure," he said.

Alvarez, 28, has said -- point blank -- he doesn't respect Golovkin, 36, a Kazakhstan native who fights out of Santa Monica, California.

"The respect that we had was lost," Alvarez said. "He crossed the line with his statements, with what he said, with the excuses, with all the crying from his team. So the respect, it was completely lost, and that's how it will continue. In fact, this loss of respect and their statements and what they all said, this will help me to give 100 percent and give that extra push to leave it clear that I'm the better fighter."

Alvarez added, "I'm bothered by all the stupid things they've been saying. I don't know which one to laugh about or get angry about at this point. But their statements are all excuses for the loss they will take this Saturday. I have been using all of these statements as motivation for my fight on Saturday. I know that it can be dangerous to go in the ring with a hot head, but I have experience. I know how to use this anger in the ring intelligently."

Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya, who had his own share of grudge matches when he was an active fighter, such as his feud with Fernando Vargas, said he has not seen Alvarez so pumped up to get his hands on an opponent.

"This fight is something different. This fight is personal," he said. "I've never seen Canelo so angry. He really wants to knock Golovkin out. As a promoter, I want to see him knock Golovkin out."

Record breaker