Canelo Alvarez suggested Wednesday that he’ll be more aggressive against Gennady Golovkin in their rematch than he was in their first fight.
The former junior middleweight and middleweight champion is convinced he hurt Golovkin 11 months ago. That has made the Mexican superstar more confident that he not only can become the first fighter to beat Golovkin, but that he also can knock out the WBC/WBA/IBO middleweight champion September 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (HBO Pay-Per-View).
“From the beginning, I will work him to look for that KO,” Alvarez said Wednesday through a translator on a conference call. “That’s what I’ll be doing from the very first round. That’s why I’m training and I’m mentally prepared to do that. Obviously, that’s the way I want this fight to end, by knockout, and for them to raise my hand after that knockout victory.”
Some fans and media criticized Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) for fighting cautiously and moving too much when he boxed Kazakhstan’s Golovkin (38-0-1, 34 KOs) to a controversial draw last September 16 at T-Mobile Arena.
One judge, Adelaide Byrd, strangely scored Alvarez a very wide winner in that bout (118-110). Judge Dave Moretti scored their 12-rounder 115-113 for Golovkin and judge Don Trella had it even (114-114).
The scoring aside, Alvarez said Wednesday that he learned during those 12 rounds everything he needs to know to come back and defeat the 36-year-old Golovkin convincingly in their rematch.
“I knew that he was strong and I knew that he could take punches, and I knew that he could assimilate well,” Alvarez said. “Nothing surprised me. I knew who he was, I know he’s strong and he’s gonna be strong this fight. I know he’s gonna be strong in this fight and that’s why I’m training. But more than that, the first fight showed me what I can add to my game plan to beat him on September 15th.”
Alvarez, 28, is training in San Diego for what will be his first fight in almost exactly one year. His six-month suspension for twice testing positive for clenbuterol in February is set to end after Friday.
–boxingscemne
