By Miguel Rivera
Former multi-division world champion Jhonny Gonzalez does not believe his countryman, WBO junior middleweight champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez (48-1-1, 34KOs), can not call himself the best fighter in boxing.
In order to earn that position, Gonzalez says Canelo will have to fight - and beat - WBC/IBO/WBA/IBF middleweight champion Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin (36-0, 33KOs).
The teams behind Canelo and Golovkin are currently in negotiations for a showdown in September 2017.
Whether or not a deal is reached or not reached, Canelo and Golovkin are already planning their next fights. Canelo, because of a right hand injury, will not return until May of next year. Golovkin fights on December 10, likely against WBA mandatory challenger Daniel Jacobs.
Either way, Gonzalez says a Canelo vs. Golovkin fight is the only way to determine which of them is really the best.
"No [ I don't think Canelo is the best]. I think that at this moment he has still not done what is necessary to be considered the best fighter today. I think he has to face Golovkin, and beat him, which will demonstrate that he is the best fighter today. I think that until that fight happens, he won't be able to occupy that position as the best," Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez does give Canelo a very good shot to beat Golovkin.
"I feel he does have the necessary size to beat him. It's about making an excellent preparation which he always does. This is a business, and his promoter Oscar de la Hoya is trying to make it a bigger fight for them in order to get them the type of money they deserve. When they actually face each other, I think Canelo has a chance to win."
Gonzalez also gave his thoughts on Canelo's recent knockout of unbeaten Liam Smith to capture the WBO belt.
"It was an interesting fight in which it was expected to end this way. Smith was very courageous, a fighter who showed good technique, courage. but he didn't really have the power in his punches to hurt Canelo. It was a matter of time, with Canelo connect solid blows to the body and he continued working them - until Smith fell to the canvas and the fight was over," Gonzalez said.
