By Keith Idec
Canelo Alvarez has taken offense to some of the derogatory things Gennady Golovkin and trainer Abel Sanchez have said about him.
Alvarez acknowledged his displeasure with their criticism in a press release issued Thursday morning by Golden Boy Promotions. The suspended superstar thinks they’ve gone beyond just trying to hype their middleweight championship rematch, scheduled for September 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (HBO Pay-Per-View).
“I don’t know why Golovkin’s corner or team have been aggressive in their talks,” Alvarez said between training sessions in San Diego. “It may be because of the rivalry we have. I don’t know. I think they’ve gone too far. They’ve gone beyond just trying to sell the fight with their statements. I don’t like talking or instigating with the fighter, or even trying to make a show to sell the fight. People know that when we get in the ring, we’re going to give a great fight, period.”
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An angered Golovkin (38-0-1, 34 KOs) has repeatedly stated he doesn’t believe Alvarez’s two failed performance-enhancing drug tests were caused by consuming contaminated meat in his native Mexico. Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) maintains that is how clenbuterol, a banned substance, turned up in his system in tests administered by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association on February 17 and February 20.
Alvarez’s PED ordeal caused the cancelation of a rematch scheduled for May 5 at T-Mobile Arena. The 28-year-old Alvarez was suspended six months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission on April 18.
His suspension is due to end after August 17 because it is retroactive to the date of his first failed test.
Before knocking out Vanes Martirosyan, Alvarez’s late replacement May 5, Golovkin called Alvarez “a dirty fighter” and “the largest problem we have in boxing.” Sanchez and Golovkin also filmed a commercial for Nike’s Jordan Brand in which Sanchez mocked Alvarez’s contaminated meat excuse.
“In some sense, he might have offended me,” said Alvarez, who fought to a controversial draw with Golovkin on September 16. “But I always consider who’s saying that. The truth is that Golovkin is my opponent, so I understand it. With Abel Sanchez, it doesn’t worry me at all. Because at the end of the day, what about him? At the end of the day, he’s not going to get in the ring with me.
“It got more personal this time around. The little respect that we had for each other was lost. I’m using this as motivation. Everything that he has said has made it personal. What they said about who I am as a person has made it personal. But I will use it intelligently to my benefit this September 15.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
