Robert Garcia: I Really Believe Canelo Could Beat Golovkin

By Edward Chaykovsky

Veteran trainer Robert Garcia feels confident that Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (48-1-1, 34 KOs) will get the upset when he finally steps in the ring with WBC, WBA, IBO, IBF middleweight champion Gennady "GGG" Golovkin (36-0, 33 KOs).

The fight has long been discussed, but Canelo says he still plans to go face to face with Golovkin in September - as part if Mexican Independence Day weekend.

Canelo's first assignment of the year will take place on May 6th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, when he moves up to a catch-weight of 164.5-pounds to face fellow Mexican superstar Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

Golovkin is scheduled to make a mandatory defense of his titles against Daniel Jacobs (32-1, 29 KOs) on March 18th at New York's Madison Square Garden.

Provided Canelo and Golovkin both win, they are expected to fight in the fall.

Garcia says Canelo is being smart by taking his time to fight Golovkin, who is going to be 35-years-old. A year ago, the veteran trainer felt Golovkin might be too big and too strong for Canelo, but his opinion has changed after watching their recent performances. Golovkin, in more than one recent fight, has appeared to be defensively vulnerable at times. 

"Look, Golovkin is very powerful, very strong, and right now one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. But Canelo is young, Canelo is being smart in waiting on making the fight last a little bit longer and when the moment is right, Canelo is going to fight ‘GGG’ and I really believe Canelo has the tools to beat Golovkin," Garcia told On The Ropes Boxing Radio.

"Maybe last year ‘GGG’ was still too strong and powerful for Canelo, but Golovkin is not getting any younger and Canelo is getting a little bit wiser because he’s very young. I really believe Canelo could beat Golovkin."