Canelo Álvarez and Gennady Golovkin Set for Trilogy Showdown: Knockout Promised in Decisive Bout

After a split draw in their first fight and a majority decision win for Canelo Álvarez in the second, the fierce rivalry between the Mexican superstar and Gennady Golovkin is set to be settled once and for all. The two boxing legends will complete their trilogy on September 17 in Las Vegas, with Álvarez promising a knockout to decide the matchup.

“From the first round I’m gonna go for the knockout. I know I’m gonna risk a lot,” Álvarez told the Associated Press. “I have to. I aim at greatness.”

Golovkin, however, prefers a more cautious approach, stating, > “Prefer not to think about knockdowns. That’s not the right approach. Boxing is a dangerous sport. Defend yourself properly.”

Álvarez Aims for Redemption, Golovkin Seeks Opportunity

Álvarez (57-2-2, 39 KOs) is coming off his first loss in nearly nine years, a decisive defeat when he moved up in weight to challenge light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol in May. Golovkin (42-1-1, 37 KOs), who will be fighting at 168 pounds for the first time, believes Álvarez was not fully prepared for the Bivol bout.

“I saw Canelo didn’t show the best of him,” Golovkin said. “Probably he didn’t take that fight seriously, didn’t prepare mentally for that fight. This one would be different.”

Álvarez acknowledges the loss “hurt me a lot,” and he has vowed to be more dangerous in the trilogy fight, fueled by anger over the defeat.

Animosity and Significance of the Trilogy

The animosity between the two fighters has been palpable, with intense staredowns during promotional events in Los Angeles, New York, and even at Yankee Stadium, where they threw out ceremonial first pitches.

For Álvarez, this fight is “personal” due to Golovkin’s dismissive attitude towards him following their previous matchups. Golovkin, on the other hand, has downplayed Álvarez’s bravado, saying, > “It’s hard for me to say why he’s saying all that. I don’t think about him, I forgot about him. He has lost track of reality.”

Regardless of the personal tension, both fighters recognize the significance of completing the trilogy, which would join the ranks of other historic trilogies in boxing, such as Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier and Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Roberto Durán.

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