Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez's knockout power has come under fire from an unexpected source. His former rival, Gennady Golovkin, claims Canelo's hardest punch felt more like a slap than a devastating blow.
Canelo, the Mexican boxing superstar, has built a reputation for his punching power. He's known for huge knockout victories, including one-punch stoppages against James Kirkland in 2015 and later against Sergey Kovalev and Amir Khan.
But 'GGG' Golovkin, who faced Canelo three times in the ring, doesn't seem impressed. In a recent interview, the former unified world champion shared his thoughts on a memorable moment from their first fight.
"I remember that punch, I let it get through. 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 was referring to a huge right hand Canelo landed in the ninth round of their initial bout. The punch didn't have the effect many expected, given Canelo's reputation for power.
The Canelo-Golovkin rivalry spanned three fights. Their first ended in a controversial draw, the second saw Canelo narrowly win, and in the third, Canelo won convincingly.
Canelo's power seems to have eluded him in recent fights. His last five victories have all come via unanimous decision, including his latest win against Edgar Berlanga in September.
The Mexican star is expected to return to the ring in May 2025. Potential opponents include Dmitry Bivol and Terence Crawford.
As for Golovkin, he's been out of action for over two years but hasn't ruled out a return to the ring. His comments about Canelo's power will certainly add fuel to the ongoing debate about the Mexican's punching ability.
