The 2017 boxing year is already in full swing and off to a good start with the recent Jack vs. DeGale bout. Many boxing fans hope this year will be a strong one for the sport after a slow and disappointing 2016 that did not give fans or media the match-ups they wanted to see.
In part 2 of my “On The Ropes” interview with trainer Ronnie Shields, I get his thoughts on Gennady Golovkin vs. Daniel Jacobs and also get his views on Golovkin-Canelo. Shields also talks about the perception that Canelo is afraid of Golovkin. Additionally, Ronnie speaks on Pacquiao vs. Crawford and if this fight could be a passing of the torch. Here is what Ronnie Shields had to say.
Jenna J: Gennady Golovkin has a fight with Danny Jacobs in March. What do you think of that fight?
Ronnie Shields: I think that’s a great fight, I was so happy they made the fight because Danny Jacobs is such an all around type of fighter. Danny has a lot of power also and he has really good boxing skills. Sometimes when you put a guy in his hometown, he tries to do things other than what he’s supposed to do, but I think Danny is a really smart guy. He can’t get in a toe-to-toe war with ‘GGG’, he has to stay on the outside and let Golovkin run into punches. If Danny is able to keep his composure, I really and truly believe that Danny has a great shot.
Jenna J: In terms of 2017, people want to see Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin. Do you think the team of Canelo will allow that fight to happen?
Ronnie Shields: I really don’t know because now he’s going to fight Chavez Jr. at 165lbs but he won’t fight Golovkin at 160lbs. What sense does all of this make? I don’t think Canelo is afraid of Golovkin, but if you call yourself a middleweight champion — which is the title that you won but never defended at that weight, then why fight for it? It just doesn’t make sense to me.
If the fight does happen. I think everybody is going to be happy because they want to see two of the best fighters in the world fight each other. Take nothing away from Canelo, he is one of the best fighters out there and is one of the most well known fighters out there also. It just seems like they have a hard time making this fight and I don’t know why. Maybe they think that ‘GGG’ is going to get older and that he will have a better chance that way. I don’t understand it but I think everybody in the sport is really looking forward to that fight.
Jenna J: If those two were to fight, how do you think the fight would play out?
Ronnie Shields: I think it will be a good fight. The thing about Canelo, he’s not the type of guy to move around a lot, he wants you to come straight forward to him so he has an opportunity to hit you because he really believes in his power. I think Golovkin is the much stronger fighter and I think he probably takes the better punch. This is why I would have lean towards ‘GGG’ in this fight.
Golovkin brings a lot of good things to the table and he’s such a smart fighter and this is why this guy is the undisputed middleweight champion of the world right now, because he’s good, smart and can punch. He can punch with both hands, so you really have to have the right style to beat a guy like Golovkin, and I don’t think Canelo has it.
Jenna J: Manny Pacquiao is going to be fighting Jeff Horn in April and then perhaps have a bigger fight with Terence Crawford later. If Pacquiao fights Crawford, how do you see that one playing out?
Ronnie Shields: I really like Crawford, every time he fights I watch him and he just amazes me every time out. In the sport of boxing, there’s always a thing called passing the torch, and I truly believe that if Manny Pacquiao fights Terence Crawford, he will be passing the torch.
Manny Pacquiao has been around for a while now, he’s a great ambassador of the sport of boxing. Boxing owes Pacquiao a great deal because he’s done so much for the sport. But as time goes on, there’s new faces out there and you need someone to take over and I really believe that guy is Terence Crawford.
Canelo is not a fighter, he is a clown. Clownelo is scared, scared of facing a real middleweight, Yeah he is fighting Chavez Jr, but he knows that fatty with have nothing left at 164.5. CLOWNELO!!!!
See I don’t get why people really think Golovkin will beat up Alvarez. Why? Alvarez is actually larger body wise and has faced way better fighters. Mayweather would of toyed with GGG, Lara might out box him, so I think Canelo not only wins, but he might win by KO.
Pussy Canelo actually needs to get inside the ring against GGG before you can say, Canelo would win and KO GGG. Your thought don’t mean shit. What matters is what happens inside the ring.
Crawford is overrated. Who did he fight to land him a Pacquiao fight? None! The last fighter he fought, Molina, is a bum.
Come on now…. Stop sugar coating it. Say it as you mean it. If a champion refuses to defend his title against a guy, it only means one thing. He is fucking scared.
I don’t know if the cinnamon girl is afraid of GGG or if it’s just Oscar but if I were GGG I would give them an ultimatum it’s 2017 or never…no reason we have even had to wait this long it’s beginning to have the stench of Floyd and Manny