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Photos: Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennadiy Golovkin kickoff news conference.
Canelo Alvarez, the undisputed super middleweight champion, and Gennadiy Golovkin were face to face at a news conference Friday for the first time since their second fight in 2018.
They will meet one more time on pay-per-view Sept. 17 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Here are images from the news conference, which was held at Hollywood Legion Theater in Los Angeles. All photos by Melina Pizano of Matchroom Boxing.
Canelo Alvarez promised to knock out Gennadiy Golovkin in their third fight on Sept. 17 in Las Vegas.
Canelo Alvarez is angry.
Angry after losing a wide decision to Dmitry Bivol in May and angry at Sept. 17 opponent Gennadiy Golovkin for what the Mexican star described as ongoing disrespect. And he promises to take out that anger on his longtime rival, whom he will face at 168 pounds at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Alvarez guarantees a knockout after drawing with and then outpointing Triple-G in 2017 and 2018.
“It’s personal for me,” Alvarez said in English at a news conference Friday in Los Angeles. “This is the way I am. I don’t pretend to be another person or say things in the media or in another place and then … pretend I don’t say anything.
“… He talks a lot of things. You know, guys. That’s why it’s personal. I just can’t wait to be in that ring.”
Golovkin (42-1-1, 37 KOs) drew Alvarez’s ire when he called him a drug cheat after he failed a doping test and was suspended, which delayed their second fight. That undoubtedly has stuck with Alvarez.
And Golovkin has suggested more than once over the past four years that Alvarez has been avoiding a third meeting between the two, to which Alvarez has also taken exception.
“He’s two different people,” Alvarez said. “He pretends to be a nice guy, but no. He’s an a–hole. He pretends to be a nice guy, to be happy. Then in another place he talks a lot of s—. It is what it is. Be a man and say what you say.”
Golovkin seems to be baffled by his opponent’s attitude. As far as the 40-year-old Kazakhstani is concerned, they buried whatever bad blood they had between them by shaking hands after their second fight.
He was asked whether he respects Alvarez (57-2-2, 39 KOs) and responded in Russian.
“You know if we take my opponent’s achievements I believe he did great,” Golovkin said through a translator. “I’m a big fan of boxing. From that standpoint, I respect him a lot. As for him saying that it’s personal, I really don’t understand what he’s talking about.
“After the second fight, we shook hands. I believed we put everything behind us back then. If he says he still has something against me … that’s his problem, not mine.”
To that, Alvarez said: “That’s what I think [after] that fight, I think the same way. We shake hands. After that, he started talking. It doesn’t make sense. It is what it is. I’m glad to be here. I can’t wait.”
And, obviously, the setback against Bivol gnaws at Alvarez. He was a significant favorite yet lost a wide decision to the light heavyweight champion, only the second setback in his long career. Floyd Mayweather outpointed him in 2013.
He was asked during the news conference whether he’s hungrier than ever after his disappointment. He responded without hesitation: “More dangerous than ever.”
[lawrence-related id=30073,29251]
Canelo Alvarez promised to knock out Gennadiy Golovkin in their third fight on Sept. 17 in Las Vegas.
Canelo Alvarez is angry.
Angry after losing a wide decision to Dmitry Bivol in May and angry at Sept. 17 opponent Gennadiy Golovkin for what the Mexican star described as ongoing disrespect. And he promises to take out that anger on his longtime rival, whom he will face at 168 pounds at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Alvarez guarantees a knockout after drawing with and then outpointing Triple-G in 2017 and 2018.
“It’s personal for me,” Alvarez said in English at a news conference Friday in Los Angeles. “This is the way I am. I don’t pretend to be another person or say things in the media or in another place and then … pretend I don’t say anything.
“… He talks a lot of things. You know, guys. That’s why it’s personal. I just can’t wait to be in that ring.”
Golovkin (42-1-1, 37 KOs) drew Alvarez’s ire when he called him a drug cheat after he failed a doping test and was suspended, which delayed their second fight. That undoubtedly has stuck with Alvarez.
And Golovkin has suggested more than once over the past four years that Alvarez has been avoiding a third meeting between the two, to which Alvarez has also taken exception.
“He’s two different people,” Alvarez said. “He pretends to be a nice guy, but no. He’s an a–hole. He pretends to be a nice guy, to be happy. Then in another place he talks a lot of s—. It is what it is. Be a man and say what you say.”
Golovkin seems to be baffled by his opponent’s attitude. As far as the 40-year-old Kazakhstani is concerned, they buried whatever bad blood they had between them by shaking hands after their second fight.
He was asked whether he respects Alvarez (57-2-2, 39 KOs) and responded in Russian.
“You know if we take my opponent’s achievements I believe he did great,” Golovkin said through a translator. “I’m a big fan of boxing. From that standpoint, I respect him a lot. As for him saying that it’s personal, I really don’t understand what he’s talking about.
“After the second fight, we shook hands. I believed we put everything behind us back then. If he says he still has something against me … that’s his problem, not mine.”
To that, Alvarez said: “That’s what I think [after] that fight, I think the same way. We shake hands. After that, he started talking. It doesn’t make sense. It is what it is. I’m glad to be here. I can’t wait.”
And, obviously, the setback against Bivol gnaws at Alvarez. He was a significant favorite yet lost a wide decision to the light heavyweight champion, only the second setback in his long career. Floyd Mayweather outpointed him in 2013.
He was asked during the news conference whether he’s hungrier than ever after his disappointment. He responded without hesitation: “More dangerous than ever.”
[lawrence-related id=30073,29251]
Gennadiy Golovkin’s promoter believes Triple-G can fight “into his early 40s.”
The most obvious question about Gennadiy Golovkin going into his title-unification bout with Ryota Murata on Saturday: How much will he have left at 40 years old?
Tom Loeffler, Triple-G’s longtime promoter, said skeptical fans are going to be surprised. And not just in regard to this fight, which will take place in Murata’s native Japan (DAZN). He believes his fighter has a lot more to give at the highest level of the sport.
“Gennadiy can fight as long as he wants to,” Loeffler told Boxing Junkie a few hours after he and Golovkin arrived in Japan. “… Physically and mentally he looks so good right now. I really see him doing well against Murata.
“And if he beats Murata and becomes unified champion, he’ll be having many more big fights as long as she wants.”
Golovkin (41-1-1, 36 KOs) looked like the offensive machine of old in his most-recent fight, a seventh-round knockout of Kamil Szeremeta in December 2020. The Pole went down four times in the one-sided fight.
Loeffler expects more of the same because he believes Golovkin is a young 40. He turns the big 4-0 on Friday.
“He lives very clean,” Loeffler said. “So I think you’ll see that at 39, about to be 40, you’ll see a guy who fights like he’s still in his mid-30s. With punching power one of the last things to go, I think you’ll see an impressive performance.
“I think a victory in a unification fight at 40 would be a huge statement.”
And it probably will lead to something much bigger.
If Golovkin wins on Saturday, he’s expected to face arch rival Canelo Alvarez in a long-awaited third fight on Sept. 17. No deal has been struck but all parties appear to want the fight, which is among the most-lucrative possible.
Conventional wisdom is that Golovkin must beat Murata and Alvarez must do the same against light heavyweight champ Dmitry Bivol on May 7, although it would still be a big fight if Alvarez loses.
“The momentum is moving in that direction,” said Loeffler, referring to the prospect of Golovkin-Alvarez III. “If he can beat Bivol and Gennadiy beats Murata, once again it’s one of biggest fights in the sport of boxing.”
Golovkin and Alvarez fought to a draw in 2017, although most observers believe the Kazakhstani did enough to win. And Alvarez won a close decision in the rematch a year later.
Alvarez is 31 and in his prime. Could Golovkin possibly compete with him at 40?
Of course, we’ll have a better idea when he fights the capable Murata (16-2, 13 KOs) on Saturday. At the same time, there’s a big gap in ability between Murata and Alvarez.
Loeffler knows one thing.
“The way he looks right now,” he said, “he could easily fight at a high level into his early 40s.”
Gennadiy Golovkin’s promoter believes Triple-G can fight “into his early 40s.”
The most obvious question about Gennadiy Golovkin going into his title-unification bout with Ryota Murata on Saturday: How much will he have left at 40 years old?
Tom Loeffler, Triple-G’s longtime promoter, said skeptical fans are going to be surprised. And not just in regard to this fight, which will take place in Murata’s native Japan (DAZN). He believes his fighter has a lot more to give at the highest level of the sport.
“Gennadiy can fight as long as he wants to,” Loeffler told Boxing Junkie a few hours after he and Golovkin arrived in Japan. “… Physically and mentally he looks so good right now. I really see him doing well against Murata.
“And if he beats Murata and becomes unified champion, he’ll be having many more big fights as long as she wants.”
Golovkin (41-1-1, 36 KOs) looked like the offensive machine of old in his most-recent fight, a seventh-round knockout of Kamil Szeremeta in December 2020. The Pole went down four times in the one-sided fight.
Loeffler expects more of the same because he believes Golovkin is a young 40. He turns the big 4-0 on Friday.
“He lives very clean,” Loeffler said. “So I think you’ll see that at 39, about to be 40, you’ll see a guy who fights like he’s still in his mid-30s. With punching power one of the last things to go, I think you’ll see an impressive performance.
“I think a victory in a unification fight at 40 would be a huge statement.”
And it probably will lead to something much bigger.
If Golovkin wins on Saturday, he’s expected to face arch rival Canelo Alvarez in a long-awaited third fight on Sept. 17. No deal has been struck but all parties appear to want the fight, which is among the most-lucrative possible.
Conventional wisdom is that Golovkin must beat Murata and Alvarez must do the same against light heavyweight champ Dmitry Bivol on May 7, although it would still be a big fight if Alvarez loses.
“The momentum is moving in that direction,” said Loeffler, referring to the prospect of Golovkin-Alvarez III. “If he can beat Bivol and Gennadiy beats Murata, once again it’s one of biggest fights in the sport of boxing.”
Golovkin and Alvarez fought to a draw in 2017, although most observers believe the Kazakhstani did enough to win. And Alvarez won a close decision in the rematch a year later.
Alvarez is 31 and in his prime. Could Golovkin possibly compete with him at 40?
Of course, we’ll have a better idea when he fights the capable Murata (16-2, 13 KOs) on Saturday. At the same time, there’s a big gap in ability between Murata and Alvarez.
Loeffler knows one thing.
“The way he looks right now,” he said, “he could easily fight at a high level into his early 40s.”
Gennadiy Golovkin said he carries no resentment from his two fights with Canelo Alvarez.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published at DAZN.com.
Gennadiy Golovkin is looking ahead to a possible third fight with Canelo Alvarez as if their first two meetings didn’t happen.
In 2017, the Kazakhstani fighter produced arguably the finest performance of his illustrious career, but his efforts were thwarted by the ringside judges who scored the fight a draw even though many believe Triple-G had done enough.
The following year, Alvarez made adjustments and produced a better performance in the rematch. Some observers still scored for Golovkin, but the scores that matter most favored the Mexican.
On April 9, Golovkin will travel to Japan as he looks to unify two middleweight titles against Ryota Murata. One month later, Alvarez jumps up to 175 pounds for a second time to face titleholder Dmitry Bivol.
If both Golovkin and Alvarez emerge victorious, their third encounter could take place in September. Golovkin, speaking exclusively to DAZN during preparations for the Murata fight, insists it’s a clean slate when it comes to the pound-for-pound king.
“I don’t feel bothered by the results in the first two fights,” he said. “I don’t experience any pressure at all. I look ahead because whatever happened, happened. I honestly can’t look at things that way.
“If I’m going to approach the third fight with Canelo, it’ll certainly be with different thoughts and not with the idea of righting any wrongs. I’m not in boxing to prove anything to anybody.
“There’s no need for me to have a particular win. I continue my career because I feel great.”
Gennadiy Golovkin said he carries no resentment from his two fights with Canelo Alvarez.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published at DAZN.com.
Gennadiy Golovkin is looking ahead to a possible third fight with Canelo Alvarez as if their first two meetings didn’t happen.
In 2017, the Kazakhstani fighter produced arguably the finest performance of his illustrious career, but his efforts were thwarted by the ringside judges who scored the fight a draw even though many believe Triple-G had done enough.
The following year, Alvarez made adjustments and produced a better performance in the rematch. Some observers still scored for Golovkin, but the scores that matter most favored the Mexican.
On April 9, Golovkin will travel to Japan as he looks to unify two middleweight titles against Ryota Murata. One month later, Alvarez jumps up to 175 pounds for a second time to face titleholder Dmitry Bivol.
If both Golovkin and Alvarez emerge victorious, their third encounter could take place in September. Golovkin, speaking exclusively to DAZN during preparations for the Murata fight, insists it’s a clean slate when it comes to the pound-for-pound king.
“I don’t feel bothered by the results in the first two fights,” he said. “I don’t experience any pressure at all. I look ahead because whatever happened, happened. I honestly can’t look at things that way.
“If I’m going to approach the third fight with Canelo, it’ll certainly be with different thoughts and not with the idea of righting any wrongs. I’m not in boxing to prove anything to anybody.
“There’s no need for me to have a particular win. I continue my career because I feel great.”
