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NEW YORK–Some of the greatest opponents Gennadiy Golovkin has ever faced have never stepped foot inside a professional boxing ring.
Which is to say that the Kazakh puncher and current unified middleweight titlist does not exactly consider Alvarez the toughest adversary he has ever gone up against, despite the fact that his lone career loss and draw has come at the hands of the Mexican superstar and 168-pound undisputed champion.
After drawing in their first fight in 2017, Alvarez defeated Golovkin by close majority decision in the rematch in 2018.
Alvarez and Golovkin are set to square off in a trilogy bout for Alvarez’s four super middleweight titles Sept. 17 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on DAZN Pay-Per-View.
“I’ve had champions as my opponents, I’ve had mandatory challengers,” Golovkin told a group of reporters at a press conference Monday afternoon in Manhattan. “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, 40, instead reserved his highest praise for opponents he met during his amateur career. A standout amateur, Golovkin supposedly finished his stint in the unpaid ranks with a 345-5 record.
“I’m talking about the number of amateur boxers in my amateur career who did not turn professional,” Golovkin said. “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.”
While Golovkin (42-1-1, 37 KOs) has a loss to Alvarez (57-2-2, 39 KOs), the Kazakh has never accepted that he truly lost the second fight. Golovkin has called people who think otherwise “delusional.” He has also been adamant that the first fight should not have been ruled a draw, a sentiment widely accepted by the public.