Golovkin: Beating ‘Canelo’ Álvarez would be biggest win of my career
As he prepares to face Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez for the third time, Gennadiy Golovkin has told an interview in the US that a win over the Mexican would be “very fulfilling”.
Gennadiy Golovkin is the IBF, WBO and WBA middleweight champion and will look to defeat Saúl Canelo Álvarez for the first time in his career on 17 September.
“It would be the best thing that happened”
In an interview with Sam Gordon of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Golovkin declared that beating Álvarez at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena would be his most significant victory as a boxer after the results of their first two fights.
“It would be the biggest win in my career,” the 40-year-old Kazakhstani said. “It would be the best thing that happened. That would be very fulfilling.”
The first meeting between Golovkin and Álvarez, in 2017, resulted in a split draw after the judges scored their contest 110-118, 115-113 and 114-144.
Subsequently, the second instalment of the rivalry took place in 2018 and the Mexican boxer was the winner by majority decision thanks to the fact that two judges scored the fight 115-113 in his favour.
Golovkin fighting in new weight class
After 44 bouts at 160 pounds, Golovkin - who is 42-1-1, with 37 knockouts - will fight at 168 for the first time in his career. With that in mind, he knows his bout against Álvarez will be difficult.
“I’m sure it’s not going to be an easy fight,” Golovkin said. “My opponent is a champion, he has four belts, and he’s arguably the best fighter at that weight class. I’m jumping to the weight class for the first time and I’m fighting the best fighter in that class.”