By Ryan Burton
MGM Grand, LAS VEGAS, NV -The last time we saw Gennady Golovkin in the ring he went 12 round for the first time in his career against former middleweight champion Danny Jacobs. Golovkin won a razor thin decision at Madison Square Garden in New York and retained his WBC/WBA/IBF/IBO middleweight belts.
Abel Sanchez, who's stable of fighters include Golovkin, feels that going the distance was very important for his fighter heading into this fight against Canelo Alvarez which will be by far the biggest fight of his career.
"(He gained) the knowledge that he can go 12 rounds against a big guy and still be as effective at the end of the fight as at the beginning of the fight," explained Sanchez.
Jacobs blew off the second day IBF weight in for the fight against Golovkin and entered the ring with a significant weight advantage. It was estimated that Jacobs weighed at least 10 pounds more than Golovkin. Jacobs' disregard for the second day weigh in was part of the reason the IBF has decided to do away with second day weigh ins for unification fights.
Canelo has also weighed more than most of his opponents when he campaigned in the super welterweight division. Sanchez isn't concerned with what the Mexican star weighs on fight night and said that he is only concerned with what he weighs at the weigh in.
"It doesn't matter how big he gets. On September 15th at about 1 o'clock he has to be 160. As long as he makes 160 he can do whatever he wants, whatever he feels is in his best interest," said Sanchez.
Canelo Alvarez-Gennady Golovkin takes place on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas strip and will be distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View. The telecast will start an hour earlier than most boxing pay-per-views, at 8 pm eastern.
Send questions or comments to ringsidewriter@gmail.com You can follow Ryan on Twitter @ringsidewriter
