'The respect we had was lost': Canelo changes tune ahead of Golovkin rematch
If fans expected the lead-up to September's rematch between Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin to be as tepid as last year's, when mutual respect replaced the usual trash talk between fighters, Alvarez has put those ideas to rest.
"The respect that we had was lost," Alvarez said Wednesday on a conference call hosted by his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya.
"(Golovkin) crossed the lines with his statements - with what he said, with the excuses, with his crying from his team. The respect was completely lost, and that's how it will continue. This loss of respect and what they all said will help me to give a 100 percent and to give that extra push to make it clear that I'm the better fighter."
Alvarez's ire stems from comments Golovkin made in March following the Mexican fighter's positive tests for the banned substance clenbuterol.
The 28-year-old tested positive on two occasions in February, leading to the cancelation of a scheduled May rematch and a six-month suspension. But Alvarez and De La Hoya maintained the positive tests were the result of tainted Mexican meat. Golovkin countered by saying that explanation was a tired excuse for his opponent's attempts to cheat the system.
"I'm very bothered, and I'm angry about their accusations, but I will utilize it in my favor," Alvarez said. "I have experience in this. I know that if I go in angry and closed minded, that I might make some mistakes. So I'm going to use this in my favor, to train harder, to give this extra push, but I'm going to use that anger intelligently in my favor Sept. 15."
Though the shadow of Alvarez's suspension hangs over the second attempt at a rematch, De La Hoya says it's unfair to paint Canelo with the same brush as other fighters who've had their legacies tainted by banned substances.
"I'm not concerned one bit, because this is totally different," De La Hoya said Wednesday.
"Sugar Shane Mosley and Fernando Vargas tested positive for steroids - performance-enhancing drugs. This was clenbuterol that was in tainted meat. Everybody in Mexico knows about the big problem they have with clenbuterol in their meat. And in Mexico, he's a bigger star than ever, so I don't think his career will be tainted whatsoever. I think once he beats Golovkin in spectacular fashion, then people will forget about it here in the States."
Alvarez reiterated on several occasions throughout Wednesday's call that there's no need for concern when it comes to testing this time around.
"I learned a lot. I learned who's really there for me. But I also got a lot of experience so that it doesn't happen again," he said of his stunning February test results. "The only error that I made is that I didn't educate myself properly on the situation with meat in Mexico, and I have to learn from that so that it doesn't happen again.
"I've always had tests. I've always participated in tests. Since 2012, I've done voluntary tests each training camp. And they keep doing it, whether or not I tested positive. They can come every week, and they can come at any time, and they don't let you know, and it's not obligatory. I voluntarily do these tests. They've done it 15 or 20 times since that day in February, and they keep doing it. And any time they come here, I'm ready to take those tests."
Alvarez and Golovkin fought to a controversial split draw in September 2017, which included judge Adalaide Byrd scoring the bout 118-110 in favor of Alvarez. The challenger said matter-of-factly he'll be looking to stop Golovkin early this time around, leaving no need for a third fight.
"From the beginning, I will work him to look for that KO," Alvarez said.
"That's what I'll be doing from the very first round. That's why I'm training, I'm mentally prepared to do that. Obviously, that's the way I want this fight to end - by knockout - and for them to raise my hand after that knockout victory.
"Personally, for me, I want it to end here. I want (this rematch) to define, very clearly, who's the best."