IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs) will get a much tougher challenge in the upcoming rematch with Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs), according to Golden Boy Promotions President Eric Gomez, who handles the Mexican superstar.
The rematch is scheduled to take place on May 5th at a location to be announced.
They first collided last September at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with the contest ending in a controversial twelve round split draw.
Golovkin and his handlers were upset that Canelo did a lot of moving in the first contest.
Gomez admits that his fighter did move, but he feels Canelo may have given Golovkin too much respect in the first half of the contest.
After speaking with Canelo, the Golden Boy executive was told that the fireworks would open up sooner - and not later.
Canelo has promised his large fanbase that he will not allow Golovkin to finish the contest - he is mentally focused this time on securing a knockout victory.
“I agree, he did move a lot. But it was the first part of the fight. If you look at the last part — the last three rounds — Canelo stood his ground those last three rounds," Gomez told the Press Enterprise.
“Also, me personally, I think that Canelo figured him out. He figured out a way to fight him that was more effective. And just talking to him, he said, ‘Look, I’m going to do a lot of what I did in the last two, three rounds.’ And I think that makes for an even better fight.”
“I don’t want to speak on Canelo’s behalf, I don’t want to put words in his mouth, but I think he might have given him (Golovkin) too much respect in the beginning. But he definitely closed the show.”
The rematch is anticipated by most experts to return right back to the T-Mobile in Las Vegas.
2023-10-20 10:52:51
