“We don’t like each other”: Rivals Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin face off in trilogy match


It’s clear that Canelo Álvarez and Gennady “GGG” Golovkin aren’t fans of each other.

And after already 24 grueling rounds in the ring, that might not come as a surprise.

But after years of speculation, the two boxing greats will reignite their rivalry for the third and final time on Saturday in Las Vegas – with more than just title belts.

When the pair touch gloves, there will be a personal aspect to their trilogy fight, with Álvarez telling CNN Sport’s Alex Thomas that it’s “different” to his other fights.

“I think it’s different because we don’t like each other,” he explained. “We have history so it’s an exciting fight, for both, for the fans, for everyone.

“And I hate that type of person, like Golovkin says a lot of things about you, and then when you have that person in front of you, they’re like, ‘Oh, I respect that, I respect that.’ I hate it. I’m just really looking forward to coming back.”

FINAL CHAPTER

The rivalry between Álvarez and Golovkin has gripped the boxing world for almost five years since their first fight, with ups and downs, thrills and spills along the way.

They first fought in 2017, with GGG’s WBC, WBA and IBO middleweight titles all at stake; The fight ended in a controversial draw, with many saying the Kazakh fighter should have been considered the winner.

The fight’s controversial outcome culminated in a rematch being announced shortly after, but canceled after Álvarez tested positive for a banned substance. The Mexican fighter was subsequently banned for six months.

Eventually, just over a year after their first fight, the two fought in a rematch, which again wasn’t without controversy. Although Álvarez was awarded the win by majority decision after 12 rounds, many again debated whether this result was correct, again saying Golovkin passed Álvarez.

And now, almost four years to the day after their second fight, the two get back into the ring.

Álvarez will put his undisputed super middleweight titles on the line while fighting for the weight for Golovkin for the first time in his career.

40-year-old Golovkin earns a middleweight unification win over Japan’s Ryōta Murata, his first fight in over a year.

But for Álvarez it’s a different story.

In his previous fight in May, the 32-year-old was stunned by Russia’s Dmitry Bivol in their light heavyweight title fight, with all three judges scoring in Bivol’s favor – only the second loss of his career.

It was a weight gain for Álvarez, although he doesn’t blame that increase for the unanimous loss, he said: “A lot happened in my training camp.”

However, that loss has only made him more dangerous as he says he “learned a lot”. “I think I’m more dangerous than before because I’m hungry to come back,” said Álvarez.

“And I’m very competitive. Like I said before, when you’re looking for greatness, times are going to be tough. But that doesn’t mean I won’t achieve what I want, my goals. I’m looking forward to it and ready to come back.”

While his trilogy fight with GGG is the latest in a long line of blockbuster fights for Álvarez, he says – as he prepares for his 62nd pro fight – he’s driven by more than just titles and championships.

“Ever since I started boxing, I’ve always felt like the best fighter in the world. I feel like the best because I’m the only fighter who doesn’t have to take risks. I take risks because I want to be great, not just a champion. There are many champions out there. The difference between me and them is that I risk everything to be great.”

The fight can be followed live on DAZN PPV on September 17th.