Canelo Alvarez is still irked over his unanimous decision loss to light heavyweight champ Dmitry Bivol in May, his first setback since 2013.
The Mexican star wants to put the disappointment behind him by getting back to what he has does best over the past 17 years, winning fights. And he wants to do it in emphatic fashion when he faces Gennadiy Golovkin a third time on Saturday in Las Vegas.
He and Triple-G fought to a draw in 2017 and Alvarez won a majority decision the following year.
“From the first round I’m gonna go for the knockout,” Alvarez told The Associated Press. “I know I’m going to risk a lot. I have to. I aim at greatness.”
The loss to Bivol was damaging, as Alvarez fell from the No. 1 position on most pound-for-pound lists (No. 2 on Boxing Junkie’s). He took pride in the perception that he was the best in the world.
Now he’s more like most other elite fighters, exceptionally talented but beatable.
The new reality has stoked a fire under him. He’s as motivated for the fight on Saturday as he has been for any fight, which might not bode well for his arch rival.
“I have to move forward,” he said. “I’m more dangerous right now, I’m more angry. And I will use it my favor.”
The fact the fight following his setback is against Golovkin is sort of a bonus for him.
Alvarez would want to make a strong statement regardless of opponent. However, he doesn’t like Triple-G, who called him a drug cheat after he tested positive for a banned substance between their fights and has made other remarks that got under Alvarez’s skin.
That makes him particularly determined to finish off Golovkin once and for all.
Said Alvarez: “I’m gonna end his career.”
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