Former Gennadiy Golovkin trainer and a man he knows very well, Abel Sanchez, breaks down the Canelo trilogy for World Boxing News.
Sanchez, who guided GGG to the summit of the sport, aired his views on the September 17th collision.
The top coach discussed form going into the Las Vegas fight, a recent defeat for Canelo against Dmitry Bivol, and the obvious question of Golovkin’s age.
Canelo vs GGG III
Firstly, WBN quizzed Sanchez on how he sees the third Canelo vs GGG 3 fight going.
“It’s going to be a close, hard-fought fight,” Sanchez exclusively told World Boxing News. “Both GGG [through his age] and Canelo [because of his loss to Bivol] have negatives going into the fight.
“Therefore, both will be trying to prove the critics wrong. This will make it a good fight.”
On whether he believes they needed a third fight, Sanchez, who was in GGG’s corner for both bouts, added: “Yes, I think they fought 24 good rounds.
“They were both close fights [I still think GGG won both of them], so they have a score to settle.
Golovkin Age
Golovkin has won all four fights since the Canelo reverse in their rematch following a draw in the initial contest. Now 40, the trilogy could conceivably be the Kazakh puncher’s last.
“The change in staff and coaching will definitely bring changes. We will see if those changes can be enough to make this one a more convincing victory.”
Asked if he thinks Canelo is vulnerable after losing to Bivol, Sanchez responded: I wouldn’t say vulnerable.
“Canelo fought a fighter with GGG amateur credentials. Maybe not the punch, but he was a much bigger guy.
“Canelo dared to be great and fought a bigger GGG,” he pointed out.
Prediction
Finally, urged to give a prediction for the fight, Sanchez concluded: “I think it is a close fight.
“GGG will not make it easy for Canelo but will age show its ugly face. I see a close fight with a controversial ending.”
Golovkin challenges for all four versions of the super-middleweight title on September 17th. A win would be the icing on the cake of a Hall of Fame career.
Becoming two-weight unified world champion and the undisputed at 168 would be an unbelievable story for the man who conquered America with his fists.
WBN Editor Phil has over ten years of boxing news experience. Follow WBN on Facebook @officialworldboxingnews and Twitter @worldboxingnews.
