Abel Sanchez: “If Canelo Alvarez slugs it out and he’s in front of Golovkin, then he’s going to be knocked out!”

Abel Sanchez is only days away from being in the corner for the biggest fight of his career, as Golovkin vs. Canelo is set to take place this weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada. The bout will be staged at the T-mobile arena in front of a sell out crowd. The fight itself has been built up for two years with both fighters gaining titles in the middleweight division, as Gennady Golovkin currently holds the IBO/WBA/WBC/IBF belts, while Canelo Alvarez is the Ring Magazine middleweight champion. Whoever wins on September 16th, will not only have the distinction of being the middleweight champion of the world but will also have a claim on being the best pound-for-pound fighter in boxing.

In part 2 of my “On The Ropes” boxing radio interview with Abel Sanchez, I discuss with him the possibility of Floyd Mayweather Jr. facing the winner of this weekends bout and get his thoughts on Floyd’s 50th win. Sanchez also gives his thoughts on a decision going against Golovkin and if he believes Gennady needs a dominant performance to win. Additionally, Abel breaks down what kind of fight fans can expect and gives his official prediction for Golovkin vs. Canelo. Here is what Abel Sanchez had to say.

Jenna J: Floyd Mayweather Jr. attained his 50th win against Conor McGregor. Do you think that is the kind of fight he should end his career on, or do you think he needs to face the winner of Golovkin vs. Canelo for his own legacy?

Abel Sanchez: As important as it is for him to be ‘TBE’ and as important as it is for him to be recognized as one of the best, I’m surprised that he made this fight. I understand the financial part of it for him, but it does nothing for his legacy and I think for us to consider that being one of the 50 fights would be bad for his legacy and to his image.

If he retires and does nothing after that, I don’t think that it will be something that will be considered as breaking the record of Marciano. It’s just like when these baseball players were caught using performance enhancing drugs, how can you put those records on file and consider them with the records of the guys that didn’t? I think of this talk about an asterisk besides their name for this being done while using the performance enhancing drug.

For Mayweather fighting an amateur, it shouldn’t be considered as his 50th win. What he does after this fight will determine how he’s viewed at the end of his career. If he does go and fight the winner of Golovkin and Canelo, then I think people will have more respect for him, I think the boxing purists will have more respect for them.

Jenna J: Abel, turning things back to Golovkin-Canelo, do you have any concern about the fight going the distance and not getting the decision Golovkin might deserve?

Abel Sanchez: Obviously you have to be concerned with that, yes. Canelo has a country behind him because of his nationality, the Mexican people really follow him. So being that as it may, we will be in Vegas I’m sure with a pro Canelo fight that may influence the judges. We don’t know who the judges are now but I know they are going to be very professional and understand the importance of this fight and judge it fairly. If we don’t win decisively and it’s a close fight, I hope they are fair and look at the fight for what it is. The worst thing that can happen for boxing is a controversy.

Jenna J: Will you feel any pressure in the corner to push for a knockout, being that it’s a possibility that if it is close it may not go your way?

Abel Sanchez: We’re fighting a very good fighter but I know what’s in Golovkin’s mind, we discussed it. We know who we are up against, but at the same time you do what you can inside the ring. We hope to make it a fight where people are entertained and if that’s the case then Canelo is going to be in front of Golovkin and if he is, I don’t think Canelo can go twelve rounds.

If Canelo decides to pull a Jacobs or just dance all the way around the ring, then people won’t be entertained. I think the most important thing is to make sure that people see this for what it is, the best fighting the best. Hopefully it will be that kind of fight.

Jenna J: Honestly Abel, what kind of a fight are you expecting? Do you think Canelo will go out there and box, or do you think he will try and slug with Gennady?

Abel Sanchez: I think the first 3 or 4 rounds is going to be difficult for both guys, assimilating the speed, assimilating the movement, figuring out what kind of tactic one or the other guy has. I think by the fourth round is when they get down to it, but Canelo being a Mexican and having all these people behind him, he’s got a lot of pressure on him, he’s got a lot of pressure to perform. He’s got a lot of pressure to perform like the old Mexican’s used to perform and if he does that and he’s in front of Golovkin, then he’s going to be knocked out.

In my opinion, his best tactic would be to try and box Golovkin from the outside, but that will be a problem too as Lemieux found out because Golovkin had a great jab. So, I think the pressure is on Canelo to make sure he makes it a fight, Golovkin always comes forward and always fights, so what kind of fight is it going to be, I hope it’s one of those fights we remember for a long long time.

Jenna J: In closing Abel, what is your official prediction for Golovkin vs. Canelo, how does the fight play out from the opening bell to the finish?

Abel Sanchez: As I said, I think it’s a difficult fight for 3 or 4 rounds, they both are going to hit each other, they both are going to land some very good shots, but I think Golovkin’s physicality will take over
probably by the 8th or 9th round and either stop Canelo late in the fight or win going away by decision.