Teddy Atlas: Golovkin Is Shot Fighter; Canelo-GGG Trilogy Too Late

[Ruthless-RKO]

Hall of Fame trainer Teddy Atlas believes that a third match between Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin is well past its expiration date.

A meeting between Golovkin and Alvarez could very likely take place on Mexican Independence Day in September once the boxing schedule resumes with regularly scheduled events after the global pandemic of coronavirus. Atlas, however, insists a trilogy between the two archrivals has already exceeded its shelf life.

DAZN inked both boxers to lucrative deals to pit the pugilists against one another. The 29-year-old Alvarez, though, has flexed his business muscles since signing his $360 million pact with the streaming platform and demanded a better financial framework to his advantage to fight Golovkin once again. In the process, Golovkin, who’ll be 38 next week, has further aged playing the waiting game.

“If you heard a giant sigh of relief somewhere it was coming from [DAZN chairman] John Skipper and the other executives when finally — we think — that third fight is done,” Atlas opined on his talk show "The Fight with Teddy Atlas.”

“Maybe it’s going to save a few people’s jobs over there that they have it if they actually do have this fight hunkered down, and it actually does happen. So that’s the good news. Here’s the bad news. The bad news is it’s too late … Time has passed, people have moved on … I don’t know that interest is there anymore for that fight.”

Alvarez and Golovkin’s previous exploits have been well documented. They battled to two highly disputed decisions — one a draw in 2017, the other a majority decision in 2018.

It can be argued that Golovkin won both fights — Atlas thinks Golovkin won both encounters — but the record books will say otherwise.

“[Golovkin] showed the heart of the warrior that he is [versus Sergiy Derevyanchenko in October]. He wasn’t right. Was it because he was sick, was it a fluke, was it an anomaly, was it that or was it what [Golovkin] is now? An older fighter, a higher that has left parts of himself in the ring, and parts of himself from the first two Canelo fights.

“I thought those fights [against Canelo] took a lot out of [Golovkin], and I think 400 amateur fights take a lot out of you. And I think when you’re at the age he’s at … What is he now? 38? He’s getting up there toward that number 40.

“I always say you don’t judge a fighter’s age in this tough business chronologically. You judge them by the tough fights they’ve been in.”

Golovkin seemingly aged overnight against Derevyanchenko last year, a hotly contested match and fight of the year candidate that Golovkin narrowly edged via decision while absorbing the most punches he ever had in a fight.

“In the Derevyanchenko fight, [Golovkin] looked like a shot fighter. Yeah, I said it. I said it, you people that want to get your knives out now and your bow and arrows ready. ‘How dare you say that about my guy,” said Atlas. “It’s called Father time, it’s called nature, it’s called aging, and it comes to all of us, but we all don’t have to fight for a living … When the truth comes to you in the ring, the truth can hit you, bang, hard and fast.”

[margaret thatcher]

WHO? WHO? WHO? WHO?

WHO?

[fanman]

Yes ggg seems to be on the slide slightly, which is only natural for his age. And canelo seems better than ever.
With 2 close/debatable fights ggg deserves another shot. He has the punch power to pull out a win, though his chances may be diminishing. It's the only worthwhile fight for ggg, to avenge the loss on his record. And for canelo, he has plenty of options, but it may be the best time to try & get a clear, undisputed win over a still dangerous ggg.

[paddy chavez]

I agree with atlas I don't think ggg has looked good for a while probably Wade which was 4 years ago ,the big fights just came to late for him

[Nightmare Roy]

Have to agree with Atlas

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

Id say shopworn not shot..

[BoxFrancis]

Water is wet

[Thomastearns]

Canelo wouldn't have lasted 4 rounds against Golovkin 5/6 years ago.

And didn't the shameless fraud Mr Clenbuterol know it?

All those years of chickening out and now when GGG is near 40 HE wants the fight?
Ha! It took the Brook fight to make him sign in the first place.

The Mexican fans deserve a better champion than that fraud chicken. Here's hoping they'll get one.

Brave brave Canelo!

[Syntax Error]

I think Atlas is largely correct.

Golovkin is ageing fast and he couldn't buy a decision against Alvarez the first two times, no matter what he did and he had more in the tank then.

I can't see Golovkin having any chance of beating Alvarez now and I personally agree that a third fight not really a viable prospect anymore.

[Betro09]

Telling the truth.

GGG has passed his peak long ago.

[Sammy Scaff]

Nobody would love a GGG victory more than me but really can’t see it.

[gilgamesh]

He's not a shot fighter, but he's past his best. Canelo is still at his peak, and has actually hit his absolute peak since their 1st fight. He's better now than he was, GGG is worse than he was.

[KiwiRider]

I think GGG has been on the slide since the Jacobs fight. His timing was off for the first Alvaroid fight, and worse for the second one.
Should have hung up his gloves back then.
And I don't even want to think about the damage he took against Dev, because 4 years ago GGG would have splattered him.

[Onetimeonly]

I actually agree with that idiot here, but he's always had something against golovkin and as a fan I want him to get the chance to right what he has every reason to believe were two wrongs. I've no clue what being an elite boxer resembles, but in his shoes I'd think getting your ass kicked would be easier to carry through the rest of your life than chewing on those two decisions, the second one was fine but being GGG there is no way you wouldn't think you won.

Edit: don't agree he's shot, but past the point he can take canelo. I think he gets stopped.