_1656355307.jpg)
Former two division champion Bernard Hopkins is expecting Mexican superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez to hand down a beating when he faces Gennadiy Golovkin in their upcoming trilogy fight.
For a good portion of his career, Canelo was promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, where Hopkins is a co-owner.
Canelo parted ways with Golden Boy in 2020.
Hopkins’ company promoted Canelo’s first two encounters with Golovkin.
Canelo collided with Golovkin for the first time in 2017, with their fight ending in a controversial twelve round split draw. The rematch, which took place a year later, saw Canelo win a razor-close twelve round majority decision.
The rematch takes place on September 17 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Hopkins expects Canelo to get the stoppage this time, in the mid-rounds of the fight.
“First of all, GGG is taking this fight, and he’s always one punch away from re-booting his career. He’s a puncher. That’s how he got there, and that’s how he got exposed by Canelo,” Hopkins told Little Giant Boxing.
“It’s going to be interesting to see two guys that are a few years older and not as young as they were. I think there’s going to be more blows coming from both sides. I’m picking Canelo by stoppage by the sixth or seventh round.”
The first two bouts had a lot of drama and fireworks. Hopkins feels the third encounter will not surpass the excitement of the first two meetings.
“I don’t see this being a fight that will be as exciting as the first two. I’m predicting Canelo will find his groove and then get a stoppage in the sixth or seventh round. [Canelo could stop Golovkin to the head or body], but it looks like it will be a beat down [by Canelo]. I think it’ll be a liver shot, and that’s going to happen in the first four rounds,” Hopkins said.
“Canelo is a good body shot guy that wears you down, and then the head will be exposed to do what he wants to do. But that’s where it’ll start from. It’ll start from the bottom in bringing the head down. It will be a stoppage, but it’ll start from the body.”