We were all friendly now it’s business
GENNADY GOLOVKIN is out for justice when he puts his world middleweight titles on the line against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in tonight’s eagerly-awaited rematch in Las Vegas.
Golovkin was stunned when their first bout in September last year was declared a splitdecision draw – and was then kept waiting for his second shot after Alvarez failed a drugs test.
The big-punching Kazakh admits he’s lost respect for his middleweight rival, adding further spice to a contest regarded as one of the sport’s biggest.
Golokvin said: “I’ve lost respect for him. It changed after the doping scandal.
“After the first fight I said, ‘Thank you for the fight, it was a great fight’. He said the same. We were friendly. But after doping? No. Now we have only business.”
Alvarez’s six-month ban after testing positive for clenbuterol – he claimed the result came from eating contaminated meat – scuppered a first rematch date earlier this year.
Golovkin marked time with a stoppage win over Vanes Martirosyan and will head into the rematch eager to leave nothing to chance after a sluggish start first time.
Alvarez says he too will adopt a different tactical approach. The Mexican said: “I am bothered by all the stupid things (Golovkin’s team) have been saying and have been using it as motivation.”