KEY POINTS

  • Saul "Canelo" Alvarez has yet to identify his next opponent
  • A trilogy fight between Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin is brewing
  • Golovkin comments about his rivalry with the Mexican superstar

One of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s toughest rivals has made a bold claim about his ability in the ring opposite the Mexican boxing star.

Alvarez is arguably the biggest name in the sport at present. After closing the year 2021 with a bang, he has got the entire boxing world waiting for his next move.

As it stands, there has been a host of world champions gunning for a crack at Alvarez. Nothing is concrete yet, but the undisputed champion is reportedly keen on agreeing to a two-fight deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom under DAZN’s banner.

The two fights being eyed thus far for Alvarez are against WBA light heavyweight king Dmitry Bivol and a trilogy fight with his old foe Gennadiy Golovkin.

Sharing his thoughts on the potential third showdown with Alvarez, Golovkin insisted that he has “the keys” to his rival’s weakness.

“[Someone] shared an opinion that I was probably the one that chased Canelo away from the middleweights of the division,” Golovkin said through a translator on “Walking the Floor with Chris Shiflett” podcast via Boxing Scene. “I’m not sure whether that is true. But I know Canelo as a fighter, and I have the keys to how to open him up, how to fight against [him].”

“I’m certain that he studied me as well and that he has some things in his arsenal as well,” he added.

Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez
Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez's rematch next month is one of the sport's biggest fights of the year. In this picture, Golovkin (L) reacts from an attack by Canelo during their WBC, WBA and IBF middleweight championship fight at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Sept. 16, 2017. JOHN GURZINSKI/AFP/Getty Images

Golovkin failed to secure a win over Alvarez during their middleweight bouts. The first fight was a draw and judges gave their nod to Alvarez in the rematch.

With the trilogy fight looming, “GGG” is well aware of how interesting it will be.

“Definitely there is an interest in the [third] fight,” the Kazakh fighter pointed out. “It is an attractive opportunity. We know that after the second fight we offered a rematch, but basically he went up and chased other opportunities.”

“When this fight might happen isn’t clear,” he continued. “Only time will tell. But we know that it’s going to be interesting because of our knowledge of each other as opponents.”

Hearn, on the other hand, recently revealed that Alvarez “wants to fight in the UK.”

As for the “perfect opponent,” the Matchroom boss said it would be British boxing star John Ryder.

“He’s got his plans prepared and nearly locked in for this year, but I think if he wants to fight in the UK, he’s got the perfect opponent,” the promoter told DAZN. “ I don’t see any other super middleweights in their country have standout victories like [John Ryder’s].”

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