Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin are heading towards a blockbuster trilogy fight later this year but boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya believes this fight will be different from the first two.
Canelo and Golovkin met twice before, first in 2017 and then 2018 with the first meeting ending in a draw and Canelo sneaking a majority decision in the rematch. Both were considered controversial decisions.
Canelo faced Golovkin twice for the middleweight world titles back in 2017 and then 2018Getty Images – Getty
With Golovkin’s victory over Ryota Murata, the Kazakh star retained his IBF and IBO middleweight titles and he claimed the Japanese fighter’s WBA (super) middleweight title.
Assuming all goes well with Canelo’s quest for light-heavyweight gold against Dmtry Bivol in May, Canelo and GGG will have a lucrative third encounter later this year.
However, former three-weight champion De La Hoya believes it’s a different fight now Golovkin has reached 40 years old.
“I think Canelo knocks out Triple G in the third fight,” De La Hoya told BoxingScene.
“Look, I promoted both fights (in 2017 and 2018). I think Triple G has lost a step or two since their [September 2018] rematch. That will be the difference when they meet again. I think Canelo beats him even easier this time and knocks him out.
“Look, Triple G is up there in age,” noted De La Hoya. “He’s up there in age, he’s been in wars. He’s not a young 40-year-old. He’s a true 40-year-old fighter who will show his age in that third fight with Canelo.”
Golovkin and Murata sparred together earlier in their careers, and the respect was still there after GGG’s winGetty 
De La Hoya lost Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez from his Golden Boy Promotions, but did promote the lucrative fights with GGGGetty
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Golovkin’s only loss came against Canelo so no one has ever knocked out the two-time unified middleweight champion and it would be a first if De La Hoya’s prediction came true.
While it’s a strong prediction, there is some merit to what De La Hoya is saying. Canelo is 31 years old and bang in his prime.
He’s the undisputed super-middleweight champion and facing Golovkin at 168lbs is bound to suit the Mexican who has found it seemingly easy to navigate multiple weight divisions over the past few years.
Either way, the interest will be there for the fight and while time is naturally not on Golovkin’s side with this rivalry, he has all the motivation to right what many believe to be some wrongs from their previous two fights.
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