Golovkin and Canelo have faced each other three times in the ring. Their first bout in 2017 ended in a controversial draw. Many fans believed Golovkin should have won the close-fought battle where both fighters showed great technical skill and exchanged heavy shots. The WBO, WBC, and IBO titles were at stake, but no knockdowns occurred.
In 2018, they met again at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. This time, Canelo came out more aggressive and won by points, taking home the IBO and WBC belts.
Their third and final encounter took place in 2022. By this time, Golovkin had begun to slow down due to age. Canelo took advantage of this and secured a clear points decision, adding the IBF, WBC, and WBO titles to his collection. The fight marked the end of their trilogy.
In a recent interview with DAZNBoxing, Golovkin shared his thoughts on Canelo's power, specifically referring to a standout right hand from their second fight.
"I remember that punch. Well, I let it get through. You know it wasn't, I don't know what to call it, it wasn't hard. It felt kind of like a slap I guess. A slap or a sliding punch. Well, it didn't do too much."
Golovkin's words downplay the power of Canelo's punch, describing it as not particularly hard and more like a slap or sliding punch.
Since their trilogy, Canelo has successfully defended his super-middleweight titles four more times and is now pursuing a 'legacy' rematch against Dmitry Bivol. Golovkin, on the other hand, hasn't fought since their last meeting. With 42 total fights and 37 wins by knockout under his belt, he hasn't entirely ruled out making a comeback.