Golovkin vs. Canelo: Who has the edge?

By Boxing News - 01/12/2016 - Comments

canelo5(Photo credit: Alma Ontiel – World Boxing Council & Eztel Espinoza – Golden Boy Promotions) By Gerardo Granados: Once upon a time, I saw a young fighter on the undercard of a TV broadcast in Mexico. The kid was still boxing skills raw but, you could see his huge potential, after all, he was only 18 years old. As time passed, the red headed prospect solidified as a contender and got a lucrative contract with Golden Boy Promotions, but for me he has never really achieved what I expected from him.

Years back, I wrote about him praising him, but that was before he went to Golden Boy Oscar De la Hoya. After a year or so, the then contender stopped his development, and started to be maneuvered towards the WBC super-welter title. Instead of facing top super welter contenders, he was spoon fed one opponent after another and finally, got a chance to fight for a vacant strap against Mathew Hatton, who wasn’t even ranked at that weight.

I remember that once, Televisa sports organized a round table to talk about boxing, and Juan Manuel Marquez and trainer Ignacio Beristain criticize Saul “Canelo” Alvarez for being given an easy route to the title.

Well, I believe that the young Alvarez might have been rushed to the title, and they might have decided to avoid dangerous contenders due his inexperience, but still it was not an excuse for me, so I started to lose interest in him.

I want to be fair to Canelo, I wouldn’t like to be bias towards him but, he no longer represents what I thought he was destined to become.

ESPN boxing analyst Salvador Rodriguez, asked Canelo about his plans for a possible fight against Golovkin on September at 155 pounds, and Alvarez replied that once he had to make concessions to get a big fight, but that now he didn’t have to give advantages to anyone.
But, since when has Canelo given any advantage to anyone?

Alvarez has out weighted many of his previous opponents, got access to a shot at the WBC super-welter strap with ease, and won a vacant strap versus welter boxer, but he didn’t defeated a top ten contender to win it. Canelo defended his belt against many welters and only once against his mandatory. Was totally dominated and lost his title against Floyd Mayweather Jr, and according to Leonard Ellerbe, it was Canelo´s team who offered the 152 catch weight.

Canelo started to fight at 155 pounds after losing his 154 title and after two years got the chance to fight for the WBC middleweight belt at a catch weight of 155 pounds, against a small Miguel Cotto, who didn’t even make the minimum division weight limit.

Alvarez didn’t defeat any top ten middleweights or was a WBC champion, but still got the chance to fight against Cotto. Also the WBC was supposed to force the winner of Cotto and Canelo to fight against Golovkin, but instead gave Alvarez numerous extensions to negotiate and never stripped him off the belt. Meaning that, the one with the leverage to negotiate, is the one who holds the belt.

I doubt that Canelo will ever read this article, but if you do, I want you to remember when you started your boxing career. Hey it is not about weight but instead it is all about boxing skills. Allow Gennady Golovkin to fight against you at the full middleweight limit, I do believe you would be the clear underdog, but be it if you were to win or lose, I am certain that you will win respect from all fight fans than if you decide to avoid the fight or impose an unnecessary catch weight.

You must know that we the fight fans, admire and respect Champions who are willing to take risks and dangerous opposition, and even if you were to lose, no one would be able to say anything against you for challenging a fighter who has been avoided at all cost by many of the so called big names.

I don’t think that Canelo would need to impose any catch weight or that by fighting at 160, he would give any real advantage to Golovkin. But, what about the reader, do you agree?



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