Golovkin's Coach Talks Canelo-Chavez, Virgil Hunter Helping Jacobs

By Victor Salazar

New York - Trainer Abel Sanchez is preparing his star fighter, WBC, WBA, IBF, IBO middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (36-0, 33 KO’s) for his mandatory defense on on March 18th inside Madison Square Garden - when he takes on Daniel Jacobs (32-1, 29 KO’s).

Jacobs' head trainer is Andre Rozier. Rozier told the media that Jacobs will likely head to San Francisco to train at Virgil Hunter’s gym and may have Hunter in the corner. Hunter is the head trainer to Andre Ward, Amir Khan, and Andre Berto to name a few.

Sanchez was asked about the possible additions of Hunter to Team Jacobs. While he respected Hunter he did not seem concerned.

“I think Virgil is great and I respect him a lot,” Sanchez told BoxingScene.com. “If Andre (Rozier) feels that Virgil can help in the biggest fight of Danny’s career, that’s on Andre. Every coach has their own methods. They’ve know each other for a while. Two great boxing in the corner is better than one. If they feel they can work together its probable a great thing.”

Should Golovkin be victorious with Jacobs, all eyes will turn to a potential Canelo Alvarez fight. Rumors are rampant about a possible showdown between Alvarez and another Mexican star, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., at a catch weight of 165 lbs. Canelo has made claims that he is not yet a middleweight and this is why he has never fought at the 160 pound limit.

To that notion, Sanchez says, “I think the winner of the Canelo fight against the winner of this fight is the biggest fight in boxing. I think sometimes he says things that he doesn't think through. If he’s not a middleweight, how could he hold the legitimate title? If he takes a fight at 165 instead of 160, he’s going to get more criticism from the media.”

As for the fight, Sanchez feels Chavez will be handicapped by the catch-weight.

“I think it’s a tough fight for Canelo. I think the unfortunate thing for Chavez is him making 165 and if he does make it, it’s definitely an advantage for Canelo but the winner of this fight fighting the winner of that fight will be for middleweight supremacy.”