Gennady Golovkin, the boxer with 42 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw in 45 fights, says Canelo Alvarez isn't the best fighter he's ever faced. This might surprise fans, given their three high-profile bouts.
Golovkin and Canelo first met in the ring in 2017. The fight ended in a split draw, but many felt Golovkin had done enough to win. He outlanded Canelo in 10 of the 12 rounds, and one judge's wide scorecard for Alvarez raised eyebrows.
Their 2018 rematch saw Canelo win by majority decision. Again, fans and analysts thought Golovkin got the short end of the stick. The trilogy wrapped up in 2022 with a clear win for Canelo. By then, Golovkin was 40 and had moved up in weight. He'd only fought once in two years, while Canelo was coming off a loss to Dmitry Bivol at light-heavyweight.
Before their third fight, Golovkin shared his thoughts on Canelo as an opponent:
"I've had champions as my opponents, I've had mandatory challengers. I wouldn't say Canelo is the best. He's a top opponent, of course. He's a very difficult opponent, but as you can see he loses…"
Golovkin's view might stem from his extensive amateur career. He racked up an impressive 345-5 record, facing tough opponents like Lucian Bute, Matt Korobov, and Andy Lee. He explained:
"I'm talking about the number of amateur boxers in my amateur career who did not turn professional. Their boxing skills and strategy in boxing was paramount. It took them like three rounds to figure you out and fight the strategy against you that leaves you no chance to win."
One such opponent could be Gaydarbek Gaydarbekov. The 48-year-old beat Golovkin in the 2004 Olympics and won gold. He never turned pro, which makes Golovkin's statement even more intriguing.
Since his 2022 loss to Canelo, Golovkin hasn't fought. There are rumors of retirement, but nothing's confirmed. He's now involved in the amateur side of the sport. Golovkin's been named chair of the World Boxing Commission, focusing on amateur boxing.
