Gennadiy Golovkin believes Canelo Alvarez shows ‘true face’ with words

Canelo Alvarez has talked some smack about Gennadiy Golovkin, but Golovkin believes that says volumes about who Alvarez is ahead of their third bout. 

Canelo Alvarez has made his feelings about Gennadiy Golovkin crystal clear. He’s not a fan, to say the least, and his animosity is helping to fuel him ahead of his third contest against Golovkin on Sept. 17.

However, Golovkin has returned fire with his words. He’s kept personal remarks about Alvarez out of his mouth, but every once and a while, a subtle verbal jab makes its way through.

Both have expressed mutual respect for the other’s boxing skills, but how could they not? Alvarez and Golovkin fought to a split draw in 2017, and Alvarez barely edged out a majority decision in 2018.

Alvarez and Golovkin have pushed each other to the brink, but they’ve also gotten on each other’s nerves, or at least Golovkin has gotten under Alvarez’s skin.

Golovkin spoke about his doubts about Alvarez’s sportsmanship and honor after he tested positive for clenbuterol in 2018. Alvarez didn’t like that, and he hasn’t forgiven Golovkin for his words.

“I think [I dislike] Golovkin a little more because Caleb Plant, he’s a person who tells you what he thinks,” Alvarez told FanSided in July. “He tells you the truth, right? Golovkin, he tries to pretend to be other person, and he’s not. He don’t have balls. So, I hate that kind of people more.”

Watch Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennadiy Golovkin 3 on Saturday, Sept. 17, on DAZN pay-per-view

Golovkin has heard about Alvarez’s comments but hasn’t offered a retort. According to him, he has no personal feelings toward Alvarez.

“I have always said that it’s strictly business,” Golovkin told FanSided through an interpreter. “There’s nothing personal in it. To me, it’s another fight. To me, every fight in my career is important. And this is probably what motivates him. I cannot speak for him if he’s saying that it’s personal. That’s like his argument. Probably the support that he needs to approach this fight.”

Golovkin sees Alvarez’s words as a motivational tool, but he also thinks they’re indicative of Alvarez’s character.

“This time around it’s not about me ignoring this, and it’s not about him like trash talking just because he wants to play some like mind games,” Golovkin said. “By saying what he says, he just shows the entire world his true face. Just shows who he is in reality.”

Golovkin didn’t go into detail about Alvarez’s “true face,” but the connotation of Golovkin’s statement is that it isn’t pretty.

It has been four years since their second match, and many believe that Alvarez’s edge over Golovkin has only grown due to Golovkin’s age. He is 40 years old to 32 years of age.

Other than age, the other difference the third time around is the fight weight. The first and second bouts between Alvarez and Golovkin were at 160 pounds. On Sept. 17, they will be at the super middleweight limit of 168 pounds.

Still, Golovkin feels the weight difference will have a minimal impact.

“I don’t see any like, like cardinal differences, any significant changes,” Golovkin said. “And, of course, I work hard. I do my best to dedicate myself fully. But overall, I don’t see any like significant difference. There are certain nuances, of course, but not much.”

Golovkin and Alvarez come together for the third time at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Golovkin hopes to win this time around, but regardless of what happens on Sept. 17, Golovkin feels like he has nothing left to prove.

“I have nothing to prove to anybody,” Golovkin said. “I’m in boxing because I love boxing. I respect boxing, and I’ve been in boxing pretty much all my life, like as far as I remember. To get fights, to get in the ring is an integral part of the sport. So, while I’m still there, I’ll continue to do so.”