|
|
Each boxer professed his grievance at not being granted victory in the first encounter, which was judged a draw, although Alvarez did so with more vigor than the characteristically humble Golovkin.
“I believe in my power,” said Golovkin. “I believe in my strategy, I believe in my team, and I believe in the fans who support me. Now we have a new fight.”
“Without doubt I felt I won the first fight,” said Canelo. “Thank God we have the second fight.”
“We were confident we won the fight,” echoed Canelo’s trainer Chepo Reynoso. “Why? Boxing is not just about punched and getting punched. It’s about hitting and not getting hit.”
That latter comment was a direct riposte to digs from Golovkin’s trainer, Abel Sanchez, that Canelo had avoided serious combat as much as possible in the ring during their first go-round, a point to which Sanchez returned on stage.
“We wouldn’t be here if [Canelo’s trainers] hadn’t prepared him properly,” he said. “But we all know who won the first fight. And I’m convinced he’ll lose if he makes it the kind of fight where they actually test each other.”
“Let’s let the fighters do what they do: fight,” countered Reynoso. “If his fighter doesn’t know how to cut off the corners of the ring, that’s not our fault.”
“It needs to be an exciting fight this time,” continued Sanchez. “Canelo lied to his fans last time about the kind of fight it would be, and he can’t do it twice in a row.”
“You lied to your fans,” interjected Canelo. “You said you would knock me out in six rounds.”
“You can’t knock out someone who is fighting simply to avoid being knocked out,” retorted Sanchez, as the crowd cheered and jeered at seeing the façade of comity splinter in public view.
With that, the two boxers and their teams strode along the carpet again, stopping directly in front of the assembled fans. They faced off, standing nose to nose, before shaking hands and quasi-embracing, somewhat awkwardly. Then they turned away from each other; they will not see each other again until fight week. |
|
2023-10-20 13:26:18
