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Former four division champion Juan Manuel Marquez is expecting countryman Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez to score a knockout victory over Gennadiy Golovkin in their upcoming trilogy, which takes place next Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
In their first encounter, back in 2017, the bout ended in a controversial twelve round split draw.
The 2018 rematch saw Canelo win a very close twelve round majority decision.
When they collide for a third time, Golovkin will be moving up in weight to super middleweight to challenge Canelo for his undisputed championship. The first two bouts were at middleweight, with Canelo moving up from 154-pounds.
Canelo is looking to bounce back after suffering a twelve round decision loss back in May, at the hands of WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol. Canelo, who captured a light heavyweight title in 2019, was attempting to claim another belt.
Marquez and Canelo have traded words over the years, but that doesn’t affect the Mexican veteran’s views on the outcome.
He believes Canelo figured out Golovkin’s style in the rematch – and backs him to close the show in the third encounter, with added motivation after suffering defeat for the first time since 2013.
“It’s motivating for Canelo to have lost to Bivol, because another defeat for a fighter like him would not be good,” Marquez told Marca.
“In the second fight with Golovkin he showed that he can beat him in the center of the ring, in the second fight he deciphered his style and he’s going to beat him. By speed, counter punches and combinations, so he’s not going to withstand the onslaught [coming from Canelo]. Canelo is going to win by knockout.”