By: Sean Crose
“He pretends to be a nice guy,” Canelo Alvarez said of arch-rival Gennady Golovkin on Friday, “but he’s not. He’s an asshole. Both boxers were at a press conference in Los Angeles to kick off the media tour for their highly anticipated third fight, which will take place on September 17 in Las Vegas. Canelo and Golovkin stood on stage looking at each other menacingly, the event began.However, the famous animosity between the two remained evident throughout the proceedings. , ‘Oh, yeah, I’m just looking for the fight, I’m happy,'” Canelo continued, “and then in other places he said a lot of crap. That’s what it was. Just be a man and say what you say.”
Genuine or not, Golovkin took the high road. “I have a lot of respect for him,” he said of Canelo. “About him saying it’s personal, I don’t really understand what he’s talking about because after the second game we shook hands. I believe we were putting everything behind us at the time. If he says he still has something against me, that’s his problem, not mine. Needless to say, Canelo was completely clear in the event that he did have a problem with Golovkin.
“It’s personal to me,” he said. “And this is my way. I don’t pretend to be someone else or say things in the media or elsewhere and come here and pretend, ‘I don’t say anything, I don’t want to say anything.’ No. It’s personal to me because he said a lot of things. That’s why it’s personal. And I just can’t wait to stand in that ring. “Canelo even went so far as to indicate he will be in the knockout round with Golovkin when they meet for the third time…not an easy task for any boxer.
The first two battles between these future Halls of Fame are nothing short of memorable, if not memorable. In 2017, Canelo were awarded a draw at the end of their first game, although most – or at least a VERY rowdy minority – felt the judges’ nod should have gone to Golovkin. The second match took place a year later, again with controversial results. This time Canelo was given an outright victory by the judges, which not everyone agreed with. Canelo has long been known as the jury’s darling, though frankly that’s not his fault. In fact, men like to accept significant challenges. After all, he only lost to Dmitry Bivol in light heavyweight, and only to return to face the rugged Golovkin again this fall.
