Golovkin tells Canelo ‘let’s do it a third time’ after narrowly beating Derevyanchenko on points to reclaim IBF middleweight championship
GENNADY GOLOVKIN has demanded a third mega-fight with Saul Alvarez after regaining the world middleweight title.
Golovkin survived a scare to secure a narrow points victory over Sergiy Derevyanchenko in New York to reclaim the vacant IBF belt.
And the 37-year-old wasted no time afterwards in calling out old rival Canelo for a trilogy fight to finally settle the debate over who is the best.
GGG said: “Absolutely I still want Canelo, I’m just open to anybody. There are so many great champions here.
"Everything is ready, just call Canelo. If he says yes, let’s do it.”
The veteran Kazakh star still feels he has a point to prove against Mexican hero Canelo after two gripping fights.
Golovkin was controversially denied victory in the first of those in 2017 when the judges ruled a draw despite him appearing to do enough to win the bout.
And a year later Canelo got the nod on a majority decision after another close battle, ripping the middlewight titles from his grasp and inflicting the only defeat of his career on Golovkin.
Now GGG is after a third fight in order to prove once and for all he has been the best middleweight of his era, even though there are signs age is finally beginning to catch up with him.
He was made to work harder than he anticipated by the tough Derevyanchenko at Maddison Square Garden, and showed signs of being hurt having thumped his opponent to the canvas in the opening round.
Golovkin admits he will need to improve from this display if he has a chance of finally overcoming his old foe if a third match is made.
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He added: “Right now I think it’s a bad day for me. It’s a huge experience for me. Right now I know what I need.
“I lost a little bit of focused after first round, I thought it was going to be an easy fight for me.
“I need to stay strong in my camp and be more serious."
