Two-time world champion Canelo Alvarez ruled out fighting Gennady Golovkin for the third time in May and reiterated his interest in fighting Floyd Mayweather once again, saying that the last thing the so-called “Money” did diminished the credibility of the sport.
In a talk with SportsCenter prior to his fight Saturday against Rocky Fielding at Madison Square Garden in New York, Alvarez said he expects to make weight at 168 pounds, the limit for the super middleweight division, and said that even though he’s at his best, he is willing to continue learning and working toward making history in the sport.
“For a long time, since the first loss I had against him, they always ask me [about a second fight with Mayweather], and there’s the thorn in there,” he said. “I would love to have an opportunity for revenge and be able to show other things at this point in my career. I think with more experience, it would be very different.
“I would love [revenge], but he is a retired boxer who comes and goes. He is taking care of his own things. We know how he is, but if there is a possibility and he wants to return to boxing and he wants to make this fight, I would love it. For boxing, it would be great, and he would give boxing something worth watching. Lately the only thing he has done in boxing is lower the credibility of the sport with the fights he has fought. It would be good to have a rematch with him.”
After leaving the door open for Mayweather and criticizing him for his fight last year with Conor McGregor and the exhibition he will have with Japanese fighter Tenshin Nasukawa on Dec. 31, Canelo said that for now, he has not spoken to his team about a possible third fight with Golovkin, especially after the blunder of the Nevada State Athletic Commission in scheduling an event for Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions for May 4 in Las Vegas.
“No, we do not really have any talks or approaches. They’re rumors. Personally, I have not had talks or talked about it. I like to respect what I have in front of me. I have a great challenge on Dec. 15 [against Fielding]. I will pass on it for now, have a vacation and then see what is on the table for May. At this time, they’re only rumors,” he said.
On the fight with Fielding, Alvarez said he does not intend to give up any weight advantage and pointed to the limit of the super middleweight division.
“Well, I’m going for the 168 [pounds] limit. I do not like to give up the advantage and weigh in slightly below 168, but I plan on making the limit of 168 pounds,” said the Jalisco native, the favorite to dethrone Rocky Fielding and become a three-time world champion.