By Radio Rahim
Former unified super middleweight champion and Sky Sports expert analyst, Carl Froch, is giving Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) the edge to win the rematch with IBF, IBO, WBC, WBA middleweight world champion Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin (37-1-2, 33 KOs).
The second fight is scheduled for May 5th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The first bout, which took place last September at the same Las Vegas venue, ended in a controversial twelve round split draw.
At the moment, Canelo has been temporarily suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for coming up positive for clenbuterol in two drug tests that were taken in February.
Canelo must appear at a NSAC hearing on April 10 in Las Vegas - and a final determination will be made on his suspension. Most expect the rematch to go forward, since Canelo has passed every drug test in March.
Canelo and his handlers have blamed contaminated meat consumption for the positive tests.
On Tuesday, Golovkin openly rejected Canelo's explanation and accused him of being a PED user.
Froch, however, is on the fence with the subject.
"I don't know. Its difficult to fall victim to a contaminated substance when you're training. If that's what he's saying, you've got to take that as his reasoning. Does he look juiced-up? You've got to let the people decide it for themselves. I'm not in position to say whether or not he's taking performance enhancing drugs," Froch explained to BoxingScene.com.
If the two boxers collide in the ring, as most expect they will, Froch is siding with Canelo to come out on top.
"A lot of people are saying that Triple G won the fight. I haven't watched it, I've watched highlights, but I think you have to go with the general consensus that Triple G was unfortunate not to get the victory," Froch said.
"You would think Golovkin would come in to the rematch and do the business, but he's getting older, he raising concerns over Canelo and performance enhancing drugs that he may or may not be on. Golovkin is getting older, he's getting hit more often, he's slowing down. What is he 36 or 35? Canelo is a young man. I've always said that the youth and the freshness of a fighter will always beat someone who is on their way out. I retired at 37 for a reason, I could feel the age catching up with me.
"A lot of of people are expecting Golovkin to do the business in the ring, but I'm not so sure. It's a 50-50 fight, it's a pick'em. It will be closer this time. Golovkin is tough and he's a big puncher. If I had to bet on the fight and guess right - I would go for Canelo."
2023-10-20 16:46:12
