Gennady Golovkin (40-1-1, 34 KOs) is fighting tomorrow night at Madison Square Garden to get revenge. Not against the Canadian boxer Steve Rolls (19-0, 10 KOs) but against Saul Canelo Alvarez (55-1-2, 35 KOs).
Alvarez beat Golovkin in 12 rounds last September and the September fight in 2017 ended in a controversial draw. Golovkin still recalls those two fights.
“Watching on tape, I saw quite a few lost moments,” Golovkin said, “on my side and on Canelo’s side. But I still think I won on points. We can talk about Canelo more later, though.”
You can’t really seek revenge with one win and who really wants to see him get his revenge in two more fights making it four Alvarez-Golovkin matchups? Plus you’re using a fairly new Rolls to get to Alvarez. Golovkin claims orherwise and that he’s focused on undefeated Rolls and not a rematch with Alvarez.
“Steve Rolls, he’s undefeated. Very important, he’s a professional fighter. He’s from Canada, c’mon guys, like in NBA Finals right now, Raptors. Nobody knows, Toronto the same!” Golovkin said.
Granted, many thought Anthony Joshua (23-1, 21 KOs) fighting Andy Ruiz Jr. (34-1, 22 KOs) to get to heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder was a weak move but we saw how that ended. In the game of boxing, you should never doubt your opponent no matter how chunky or shorter they are like many said about Ruiz Jr.
Rolls’ plans of course is to beat Golovkin and Ruiz Jr.’s win gave him a big push.
“I’m definitely confident of pulling off an upset,” Rolls said, “had a great camp and these are the opportunities I’ve been waiting for. I’ve always believed I can do it, even before that [Joshua-Ruiz] fight. But when I’ve seen a fight like that, it’s definitely a little motivating.”
Golovkin’s promoter Tom Loeffler says a Alvarez-Golovkin rematch will be the “biggest fight in boxing”. However, many fans aren’t looking to see Golovkin beat Rolls and end up fighting Alvarez again.
Even if Golovkin beats Rolls, I don’t think his next fight will be Alvarez. It will just be the beginning of his campaign to possibly get that rematch. If Rolls win, say goodbye to that rematch and worry about your career.
Watch their final weigh ins and 37-year old Golovkin claiming he feels ten years younger on the next page.