Trainer Abel Sanchez has made his stance clear on the possibility of seeing his star pupil, WBA Super, IBO and interim WBC World middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin(32-0, 29KO’s), take on the Mexican sensation Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez(45-1-1, 32KO’s).
Speaking with Fighthype.com in the week following Canelo’s sensational knockout of James Kirkland and leading up to Golovkin’s title defence against Willie Monroe Jr(19-1, 6KO’s) in Inglewood, California, Sanchez says he would much rather this proposed super fight take place sooner rather than later. He didn’t hold back from taking a little shot at Canelo’s promoter Oscar De La Hoya either, who has said the fight can wait for another two years if need be.
“I think if it was up to Oscar it would be 2020.”
“We can’t wait like we did with Manny and Floyd. We have to make sure that we get these guys while they’re rising and not when they’ve plateaued. So it would be a great fight, Cinco de Mayo next year or [Mexican] Independence Day in September next year. By then Canelo will have three or four more fights and so will Gennady.”
With almost a decade separating these two fighters in age, the longer this bout is postponed, the more it will probably benefit Canelo. The 24 year old has faced some serious opposition over the last two years and appears to be coming into his own after a complete demolition job on an opponent many fancied to trouble him. He is bearing the expectations of a nation well and seems born to step into the mould of the next boxing idol.
Golovkin has struggled somewhat to get his name to echo past the boxing forums and magazines and into the mainstream. He made his American debut at age 30, and despite his sickening ability to finish his opponents he may have left it a little too late to break in to a real stride at the top level. However, his style is such that he doesn’t take much punishment while dishing out monumental portions of it to his foes, and with advances in sports science prolonging many a career these days he could be around for a while yet.
De La Hoya and his Golden Boy Promotions are right to keep their fattest cow fenced off from the ravenous Kazakh wolf encircling the farm but sooner or later this one will need to happen if both keep winning.
There is also the added complication of WBC World middleweight champion Miguel Cotto(39-4, 32KO’s). He is slated for a showdown with Canelo later this year provided he defeats Daniel Geale in his first defence since he won the title last June. Cotto brings more cash to the table than Golovkin after a landmark career fought consistently at the very highest level. Mexicans and Puerto Ricans will surely come out in force and combine to create a nationalistic fervour that goes beyond the allure of seeing two top guys go at it for a belt. This all means the Cotto fight is far the more likely to be first up for Canelo ahead of the Golovkin bout.
