Canelo Alvarez believes Daniel Jacobs defeated Gennady Golovkin

Canelo Alvarez gave an honest assessment of Daniel Jacobs’ 2017 performance against Gennady Golovkin. GGG probably doesn’t agree.

Canelo Alvarez (51-1-2, 35 KOs) steps into the ring on Saturday, May 4 against IBF middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs (35-2, 29 KOs). Jacobs is Alvarez’s toughest opponent since his last fight against Gennady Golovkin in 2018 which he won by majority decision. However, it was Jacobs’ 2017 performance against Golovkin that was under the microscope during Alvarez’s April 9 media call.

Alvarez answered the media’s questions along with trainers Eddy and Jose “Chepo” Reynoso and Golden Boy Promotions owner Oscar De La Hoya. It didn’t take long before Golovkin’s name was mentioned.

Jacobs lost to Golovkin in their contest by unanimous decision, but it was controversial. Jacobs gave Golovkin his first true test, and many thought he did enough to win.

When asked about the Golovkin vs. Jacobs bout, Alvarez responded cautiously at first.

“Obviously, I’ve seen the fight, but not only that fight,” said Alvarez. “We watch other fights to see if there is a variety, a change in different styles, how we adapt to different opponents. Based on that we work on our strategy and prepare for what’s coming on fight night.”

After his response, Alvarez was asked more directly who he thought won the matchup. His second reply was to the point.

“The fight was close,” admitted Alvarez. “It could have been anyone. But for me personally, boxing appreciation [sic], for me Jacobs won the fight.”

Alvarez isn’t the only one that feels this way, but his feelings towards Golovkin are biased. They had two battles against each other, and a lot of trash talk transpired between both fighters’ camps. Based on Alvarez’s comments it appears that his rift with Golovkin still exists.

It should be noted that according to CompuBox stats (via boxingscene.com) Golovkin landed 231 total punches compared to Jacobs’ 175.

The back-and-forth banter between Alvarez and Jacobs has been tame compared to Alvarez’s experiences with Golovkin. He maintains that Golovkin and his team instigated the war of words between them.

“It’s never been in my character, my trait to be offending fighters talking bad about them,” said Alvarez passionately. “What happened in the Golovkin fight was a reaction and a response to everything they said, and they did. And they talked about me.”

Jacobs is an elite middleweight, but Alvarez will likely enter their match as the odds on favorite to win. According to the Sportsbook Review, Canelo opened up at -325 odds with Jacobs as a 2-1 underdog.

If Alvarez gets by Jacobs, he’s open to fighting Golovkin for a third time if he possesses a belt.

“The objective of this year is to win all the belts,” said Alvarez. “If Golovkin has a belt, then yes. Why not? We’ve given the fans two beautiful fights, two great fights. Why not a third?”