Canelo on GGG-Derevyanchenko: ‘Obviously for me — Derevyanchenko won the fight’

Last Saturday night at MSG in New York City, we got a “Fight of the Year” candidate when Gennady Golovkin captured the vacant IBF middleweight title by defeating Sergiy Derevyanchenko by unanimous decision.

This fight had a lot of action. In the second round, a Golovkin right hook to the top of the head put Derevyanchenko on the canvas. A bad cut over the right eye of Derevyanchenko in the second round was further cause concern for the Russian – but the blood only spurred him on and he started the third round at a ferocious speed, sparking a round of fireworks where both men had their moments, and this fight was back and forth the rest of the way. Many believe Derevyanchenko won the fight, including unified middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez, who will move up two divisions to challenge WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev on November 2.

“We saw it. Obviously for me — Derevyanchenko won the fight,” Alvarez recently said on a conference call.  “It was a fight where he really looked well. It was his fight. Regarding Triple G, we all know, everyone knows, it’s unnecessary to say more, but he looked slow, and I think I gave everyone the pathway to see how to hurt him, which is the body, and that’s what we saw…

“Like I said before, and I’m going to repeat it again. I said it before the fight, and I’m going to repeat it. For me that fight presents no challenge to me right now. We fought two times, 24 rounds. I beat him, so he represents no challenge. However, what he does represent is some good business, so if they offer me something really good, maybe the third fight can happen. But for me, no, because he represents no challenge for me.”

Golovkin, 37, is no longer in his prime, but he is still very good. I think GGG won the first fight against Canelo. However, I think Canelo probably won the second fight, and while I don’t want to see Canelo-GGG III, I do believe it still would be a close fight, and in reality, this fight makes the most money for both guys. And after the way GGG looked against Derevyanchenko, it might be in Canelo’s best interest to make the third fight with Golovkin. 

I believe the fight will happen in May or September of 2020. Mark it down!

Photo: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing