Golovkin vs. Canelo Is A Rivalry In The Making
It is no accident after Floyd Mayweather beat Manny Pacquiao May 5, the following two weeks displayed the next best stars in boxing.
Using momentum from the richest fight in boxing history, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (45-1-1) knocked out James Kirkland in the third round of their non-title fight on May 9.
A week later, May 16, Gennady Golovkin (33-0) took care of Willie Monroe Jr., in a sixth round TKO.
In his post fight interview, Golovkin said he is now ready for Canelo and a week prior Canelo was asked if he would consider a fight with Golovkin, saying it would happen in the near future but not with the enthusiastic response Golovkin gave.
More from LA Sports Hub
- Lakers: 5 Players to Target Through Trades to make another championship run
- LA Chargers: Week 8 against Denver Broncos is a must-win
- LA Rams: Jared Goff wants to keep the Los Angeles title streak going
- Lakers Rumors: Los Angeles Clippers interested in Rajon Rondo
- LA Chargers: Justin Herbert wins AFC Rookie of the Month
Golovkin must be eager to get a big payday, as showing a 345-5 amateur record needs its reward.
For Canelo a fight with Golovkin would be high risk because he can not afford another big payday fight loss, like his unanimous loss to Mayweather.
Canelo in the past used Golovkin as a sparring partner, acknowledging in interviews himself and Golovkin have sparred many times.
This adds to the risk Canelo faces if matched up with the Kazakh boxer.
A comparison to what a Mexico vs Kazakhstan fight looks like, is the classic war of Arturo Gatti vs Micky Ward. In a time where boxing needs excitement from the bad taste of what was dubbed as a boring Mayweather-Pacquiao fight — a fight anything like a Gatti fight would instantly give boxing the continuous attraction it craves.
Golovkin’s last 20 fights have ended in a TKO or KO and now has 30 wins by KO making him the most exciting man in boxing.
Then, adding the 75 percentage knockout rate of Alvarez and you have a toe to toe exchange.
If the next great rivalry is to come into existence it would be safe to say it will happen because both fighters are on board with HBO.
Since September 2012 Golovkin fights have been on HBO or HBO PPV.
Alvarez recently, as of September 2014, left Showtime to HBO too, having all the makings of a rivalry in the making.
Since everything is in place also safe to say, the drawing of fans is inevitable too.
The Canelo-Kirkland fight drew over 31,500 to Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas and 2.1 million viewers tuned in on HBO proving the most popular fighter in Canelo and the most exciting fighter in Golovkin make for a classic fight to be called by Jim Lampley.
Take a look at the HBO stable of fighters on Canelo’s and Golovkin’s target before a showdown with each other and you have the modern day Ward, Andre Ward, the British sensation Carl Froch, and veteran Miguel Cotto.
Then there is Mayweather and Pacquiao who both have to leave the boxing scene and retire before Canelo-Golovkin could meet in the ring.
Bottom Line: This Needs To Happen — Now
The next big fight to occur during the reign of Mayweather is not smartest move, adding Oscar De la Hoya wants Canelo to face Golovkin two years from now in order to challenge a much older 35 year old Kazakh brawler.
Even WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman understands a fight between Canelo and Golovkin is necessary, saying he would allow Cotto to fight Canelo this year if they sign a clause stating the winner faces Golovkin all setting up the rivalry in the making.