_1.jpg)
Canelo Alvarez is warming up to the thought of a potential third bout with Gennadiy Golovkin.
Alvarez’s trainer, manager and lifelong friend Eddy Reynoso told BoxingScene.com in an interview that a trilogy between the archrivals will have to come under the terms of boxing’s biggest star.
“Saul Alvarez is going to fight at 168 pounds moving forward,” said Reynoso. “We’re not doing any favors to Golovkin or anybody else in coming down in weight to 160 pounds. Anybody can follow us to super middleweight, we’ll be waiting for them there. Golovkin has been fighting lower-level fighters lately. Canelo has been fighting the very best. We’re the A-side now. We’ll see what comes out of negotiations. We’re waiting on offers. We don’t have anything secured yet. We’re open to a fight with Golovkin at 168 pounds.”
The WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine super middleweight champion Alvarez (54-1-2, 36 KOs) is next eyeing a February 27 fight against WBC mandatory challenger Avni Yildirim in Mexico following his unanimous decision win over Callum Smith on Dec. 19.
Should the four-division champion Alvarez successfully get past the heavy underdog Yildirim (21-2, 12 KOs), his plans are to resume fighting on his traditional dates of Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Independence Day Weekends in 2021.
Reynoso said they’re considering a trio of foes for the remaining two dates after Yildirim — WBO super middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders, 168-pound IBF titlist Caleb Plant and the longtime middleweight champion Golovkin (41-1-1 36 KOs).
The 30-year-old Alvarez is a promotional and network free agent and clearly has the leverage and negotiating power against the soon-to-be 39-year-old Golovkin, who exclusively fights on DAZN.
Reynoso didn’t specify the kind of purse split they’re anticipating to have in their favor versus Golovkin, but the fact that they’re publicly welcoming the third meeting is a positive sign should a third match ever materialize.
Alvarez and Golokin last met in September 2018 when the Mexican fighter scored a disputed majority decision win. Their first fight in September 2017 was a split draw. Many observers consider Golovkin won at least one of the matchups.
The third fight against Golovkin would come nearly three years since they last met. Even if Alvarez were to win, many could consider it a victory over a fading fighter who was not at the peak of the powers he once possessed.
Golovkin still undoubtedly lands on the shortlist of the most lucrative fights Alvarez can make in 2021 — Jermall Charlo and Errol Spence Jr. are the others.
Both the boxing public and casuals would certainly tune in one last time to see if the aging Kazakh KO artist can muster off one last masterpiece.
It will add more millions to the Mexican star’s bank account, but will it add to the legacy and history that he longs for should he land a definitive win?
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, via email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or on www.ManoukAkopyan.com