Gennady “GGG” Golovkin, arguably boxing’s most exciting fighter, is getting his big break. He is going to fight Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in 2016 in a middleweight title unification fight, but it’s not clear when yet. All that has been announced is that both men will take one voluntary defense of their title before clashing.
Alvarez, the WBC middleweight champion, has never fought at 160 pounds. He has spent his career as a junior middleweight (154 pounds) and won the belt from Miguel Cotto at a catch weight of 156 pounds. Golovkin, on the other hand, has won his last 21 fights by way of knockout, and is undefeated as a pro. His trainer, Abel Sanchez, made a bold prediction for the Alvarez fight when it happens.
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“Athletically, I’m positive that Canelo won’t last nine rounds with Golovkin, whether it happens in May, September 2016, or 2020,” Sanchez told Boxing Scene. He also warned that letting the fight marinate for financial gain is a detriment to Alvarez, who will have to deal with an evolved Golovkin.
“Okay I understand they want to build up the fight. Mayweather-Pacquiao was worth $30 million five years ago and now it costs hundreds of millions,” Sanchez said. “This fight is very interesting. There’s no doubt Canelo is popular, but Golovkin has grown very much and when they fight it’s going to be very interesting.”
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Alvarez may use the tune-up fight to get his feet wet as a true 160-pounder. Even though he’s always been a large and powerful junior middleweight, he has never actually faced an opponent who can match his size. There is no word yet when Alvarez is expected to make the first defense of his belt, or when Golovkin will do the same.
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