Canelo v Golovkin: What previous opponents have said about them

Canelo hits ‘like a baseball bat’ and Golovkin is a ‘throwback fighter with mad power’: What previous opponents including Floyd Mayweather, Amir Khan and Kell Brook have said about them ahead of trilogy fight in Las Vegas on Saturday

  • Canelo and Golovkin will face each other for a third time on Saturday evening 
  • They drew in their first fight and the Mexican superstar won the second fight 
  • Sportsmail have looked at what their former opponents have said about them 
  • Amir Khan said being struck by Canelo was like being ‘hit by a baseball bat’
  • Floyd Mayweather spoke highly about Canelo after handing him his only loss
  • Meanwhile, Kell Brook described Golovkin as a ‘superstar’ with ‘mad power’  

Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin will go head-to-head for a third time on Saturday evening as they look to complete their iconic trilogy in dramatic fashion. 

The two pound-for-pound stars have shared the ring twice before – with both fights ending in highly controversial fashion. 

Therefore, they will be looking to put their feud to bed once and for all on Saturday evening when they square off in Las Vegas. 

As a result, Sportsmail have taken a look back at what each fighter’s former opponents have said about them. 

From Amir Khan to Floyd Mayweather… here’s what’s been said by Alvarez and Golovkin’s previous rivals, plus the thoughts of some boxing experts. 

Sportsmail have taken a look back at what Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin’s former opponents have said about them ahead of their trilogy fight in Las Vegas on Saturday 

Amir Khan previously admitted that being struck by Canelo was like being ‘hit by a baseball bat’. However, he did raise his concerns over the Mexican’s gloves – claiming they could be the reason behind his powerful punches. 

Khan was knocked out in the sixth round by all-time Mexican great back in 2016, in a fight for the WBC middleweight title in Las Vegas. 

He was brutally floored by a right hand but he has since revealed that Canelo’s gloves, the Everlast MX, were a contributing factor, while he could not wear the same gloves as his hands were too brittle. 

‘Every glove is different. When I fought Canelo, he had the Everlast horsehair gloves on. ‘When I put my hand in, it was like pushing to the wall, but you’re going to damage your hand as well.

Amir Khan admitted that being struck by Canelo was like being ‘hit by a baseball bat’

‘They were solid. It was like being hit with a baseball bat. The foam padding ones, the shape always stays the same. With the horsehair, it fades more towards the back of the hand.

‘So that way, your knuckles are more visible. Without padding in the way, that’s going to put more pressure on your knuckle. So you’re going to be hit with a bare hand.

‘I could never do that because my hands aren’t strong enough to do that. I’d break my hand if I fought like that. Some fighters have the hands where they could punch through a wall and wouldn’t break their hands.’ 

However, others have disputed such claims and said that Canelo’s success is down to his technique. Juan Manuel Marquez, who rose to fame after knocking out Manny Pacquiao, said that Canelo’s Mexican style is the secret to his success. 

‘Canelo showed how he can beat him, it’s the Mexican style; the Mexican style is to fight with intelligence being in the short area and throwing punches, throwing combinations and that’s what Canelo does very well,’ said Marquez.  

Mayweather spoke highly about Canelo after handing the 32-year-old his only loss

He added: ‘Canelo realized that in this third fight he will be in the middle of him, in front of him, he will move his waist, he will throw counter punches, combinations of blows to the soft areas and I think that fight ends by knockout, if I’m not mistaken, in eight or nine rounds.’ 

Others have praised Canelo’s character for his rise to stardom. Floyd Mayweather spoke highly about Canelo after handing the 32-year-old the only loss of his storied career.

Mayweather said: ‘I wanna commend this young, strong champion because he will carry the torch. Experience played a major key. Canelo’s got everything it takes to be a legend in the sport…I take my hat off to Canelo, he’s a true champion. A true champion can take a loss and bounce back.

‘Canelo does everything well, he goes to the body good, he’s got a good jab, he’s a good counter-puncher.’

Anthony Joshua also praised Canelo’s resilience after watching him fight against Rocky Fielding. He said: ‘I rate Canelo. From when he fought Mayweather, he took a loss, appreciated what it’s like to lose and bounced back.

‘He’s been improving ever since. So watching him live, watching the way he was setting up his body shots. I enjoyed it.’

Anthony Joshua also praised Canelo’s resilience after watching him fight Rocky Fielding

Golovkin  

Golovkin’s power has also been praised by his former opponents. Sergio Mora is adamant that Golovkin still has the ability to knock his rivals out despite being 40 years old. He also praised Golovkin’s ability to ‘take a big punch’. 

Speaking to BoxingScene, Mora said: ‘Golovkin is still a monster and has only technically lost to Canelo. A lot of people think that he didn’t even lose that. You can’t just say, ‘Well, he’s 40.’ Scratch that.

‘Golovkin is one of these guys that still has power, can still take a big punch, lives a clean lifestyle, and is coming off some impressive victories. So that’s the momentum going in his direction.

Kell Brook (right) – who jumped up two full divisions from 147lbs to 160lbs to fight against Golovkin – described the 40-year-old as a ‘superstar’ with ‘mad power’

Kell Brook – who jumped up two full divisions from 147lbs to 160lbs to fight against Golovkin – described the 40-year-old as a ‘superstar’ with ‘mad power’.  

Speaking to TalkSPORT, Brook said: ‘I was seeing stars at times. It was fantastic to be in there with such a superstar and feeling the power and the weight.

‘He’s a throwback fighter, Golovkin, everyone knows that who knows boxing. He’s a real tough guy. It were a great experience fighting him with all those belts at the O2 Arena. That atmosphere was epic.

‘When I exchanged some shots with him I could actually feel the roar from the fans. I could feel it in there.’ He went on to say: ‘It was the hardest I’ve ever been punched, [Golovkin has] mad power.’ 




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