By Miguel Rivera
IBF, IBO, WBC, WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs) is ready for another fire-fight with Mexican superstar Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs).
They clashed back in September, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and the contest ended in a controversial twelve round split draw.
There was a lot of focus on the scorecard that was issued in favor of Canelo - tabbing him as the winner by a 118-110 margin. One judge had it a 114-114 draw, and third judge issued a score of 115-113 for Golovkin.
The two sides are currently negotiating the terms for a second meeting, but there is nothing set in stone that a second fight will happen.
If the rematch is finalized, it would take place on May 5th, on Cinco De Mayo weekend, and likely landing right back at T-Mobile in Las Vegas.
But Golovkin is not 100% confident on the rematch taking place.
"I do not know if there will be a second fight - we should ask [Canelo]. I'm ready, I have my championships, I'll be ready for May," said Golovkin said to ESPN Deportes.
"I was surprised that he said he beat me, because he did not beat me. I do not think he felt comfortable in the ring. Sometimes the fights are more difficult, in fact I think the first one was good, but the second will be a lot more interesting."
By the end of 2016, Golovkin had knocked out 23 opponents in a row. That streak was derailed in 2017. Golovkin has gone the full twelve round distance in his last two outings - against Daniel Jacobs in March and then Canelo in September.
Golovkin refuses to predict a knockout ending in the rematch. But he does expect another grueling contest.
"I feel like I won the first fight and I'm not going to say I'm going to knock him out - because this is a tough sport, and I think it will be a tough fight for both of us," Golovkin said.