Gennady Golovkin has claimed Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez ‘does not exist as a person’ to him as he looks to beat the Mexican at the third time of asking.
The popular Kazakh, who has held multiple middleweight world titles, is back in the big time on Saturday when he faces Canelo in their trilogy fight in Las Vegas.
Former sparring partners, there is now no love lost between them. Golovkin controversially lost their first meeting and the rematch was delayed by Canelo’s six-month doping suspension. GGG – an outspoken critic of Canelo at the time of his ban – does not mince his words when quizzed about his arch-rival.
‘To ask me about me respecting him would be just inappropriate,’ he tells Metro. ‘I just feel indifference (towards him). As a person he just does not exist. As a boxer, yes, it is a big challenge but nothing special.’
Canelo may be back at super-middleweight to defend his belts after a brief foray to 175lb in losing to Dmitry Bivol in May but that defeat may open Golovkin’s eyes to a route to success.
‘His last fight showed it is possible to deliver a loss to Canelo,’ Golovkin acknowledges.
‘It was a close decision on the judges’ cards but it was not that close in reality. Although many people believed Canelo was unbeatable, that fight proved that was not the case – that he is an athlete and not super-human.’ It is all about what goes on in the ring, not outside it for Golovkin.
‘It’s not personal and I’m more interested in unifying at 168,’ he says. To win over Canelo would, of course, be a big bonus and a very prestigious victory.’
Golovkin puts the duo’s longevity down to their work ethic. GGG’s record stands at 42 (37)-1-1, while Canelo’s numbers read 57 (39)-2-2. A burning issue is GGG’s age – he turned 40 in April and has been inactive by his standards since 2019.
