By Huck Allen: Gennadiy Golovkin disagrees with Matchroom Boxing, who says they see him as the underdog heading into Saturday’s trilogy fight with Canelo Alvarez at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
(Photo credit: Matchroom Boxing)
Golovkin (42-1-1, 37 KOs) doesn’t see himself as the underdog in this matchup and feels like he’s going to beat Canelo (57-2-2, 39 KOs).
If that’s the case, Golovkin will need to make it more conclusive than the previous two fights against Canelo.
It’s understandable why Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn sees Golovkin as the underdog because that’s how the oddsmakers have him, and he hasn’t been keeping as busy as Canelo.
Also, the opposition that Golovkin has faced has not been up to par with the guys that Canelo has been beating one after another over the last four years. Canelo is younger, faster, more active and has fought better competition since 2018 than Golovkin.
“You stay in boxing when you are still in demand. When there are offers for fights, of course,” Gennadiy Golovkin told the media on Wednesday when asked if he is retiring. “If a fourth fight [with Canelo] offered, I’d say, ‘Why not?’ If the people want it. I retired three years ago. Right now, I’m staying here.”
If Golovkin doesn’t retire, boxing fans would like to see him fight David Benavidez and/or Jermall Charlo. Canelo hasn’t shown much desire to fight those guys.
“You talk too much with Matchroom. They think I’m underdog. I don’t think that way,” Golovkin said. “I believe in myself, I feel great and I am ready for the fight. Please stop talking to Eddie Hearn about the fight.
“It’s a compelling fight for a lot of different reasons. First, Canelo Alvarez is coming off a loss and has a lot to prove in this fight. Two, Gennadiy Golovkin is probably at the last roll of the dice to be undisputed, something he always dreamed of,” Hearn told iFL TV.
“The first two fights were tremendous fights, but I feel like we’re going to have the best. Gennadiy Golovkin shared 24 rounds with Canelo Alvarez. Some people believe that he won those fights. He knows how to fight Canelo Alvarez.
“I think at 168, it’ll give him a better chance than at 160 because making championship weight for 16 years, it’s really going to help his engine, it’s going to help his durability, and they both have granite chins,” Hearn said. .
