Gennady Golovkin

Canelo Alvarez made it clear in a teleconference that he has no interest in a third match with Gennadiy Golovkin.

"I said it before the fight, and I'm going to repeat it," Alvarez told ESPN's Dan Rafael and other reporters through an interpreter.

"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."

Alvarez and Golovkin fought to a split-decision draw in Sept. 2017. One year later, Alvarez had his hand raised when he beat Golovkin by majority decision 115-113, 115-113, 114-114.

Alvarez also cited GGG's performance in a disputed win over Sergiy Derevyanchenko on Saturday.

"We saw it. Obviously for me, Derevyanchenko won the fight," Alvarez said.

"It was a fight where (Derevyanchenko) 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 (to) the body, and that's what we saw."

The 29-year-old is now set to move up in weight class and face Sergey Kovalev for the WBO light heavyweight belt Nov. 2 in Las Vegas. Per Rafael, the teleconference mainly covered that bout.

Alvarez has a 49-1-2 record, with his only loss coming to the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Despite moving up in weight for the bout, Alvarez is still listed as a massive -450 favorite ($450 bet to win $100) at the Caesars Sportsbook. That may not be too surprising considering Alvarez is listed as BoxRec's best pound-for-pound fighter in the world today and in the top 50 all-time.

Kovalev won't be easy to beat, however, as he's 34-3-1 with victories over the previously undefeated Anthony Yarde and Eleider Alvarez in his last two matches. He's ranked 11th on BoxRec's pound-for-pound list.

Kovalev last fought Aug. 24, when he beat Yarde via TKO. This will be Alvarez's second fight in 2019, as he beat Daniel Jacobs via unanimous decision on May 4.

Gennady Golovkin is a world champion once again, but he had to take an incredible amount of punishment to do it. The 37-year-old Kazakh star is known for ending fights early, but he needed all 12 rounds on Saturday night to earn a close unanimous-decision win over Sergiy Derevyanchenko and capture the vacant IBF world middleweight title at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The judges scored it 115-112, 115-112, 114-113, per The Athletic's Mike Coppinger.

ESPN's Steve Kim reacted to the decision:

Gave the 12th to Golovkin, this fight could go either way, excellent battle. GGG really did show his age tonight. SD showed his value as a middleweight tonight #boxing #GGGDerevyanchenko

— Steve Kim - the Thomas Sowell of Boxing (@SteveKim323) October 6, 2019

The win keeps Golovkin in the running for a third bout against Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. Golovkin has one draw and one loss against Alvarez, the only fighter to have stymied Golovkin in his otherwise spotless career.

Golovkin said he "absolutely" wants to fight Alvarez again, per the DAZN broadcast. However, his struggles against Derevyanchenko suggest he might have a tough time if a trilogy bout comes together. Derevyanchenko exposed some of his growing deficiencies.

GGG may be getting up there in years, but it's clear his power is still there. He was able to drop The Technician late in the first round with a hard uppercut followed by a few shots to the top of the head.

Ring's Ryan Songalia noted this wasn't the first time Derevyanchenko had gone to the canvas early:

Gennadiy Golovkin puts Sergiy Derevyanchenko down early in round 1, Derevyanchenko was also down early against Danny Jacobs in his lone defeat. Golovkin is not getting overly excited, and gets caught reaching in #GGGDerevyanchenko

— Ryan Songalia (@ryansongalia) October 6, 2019

In that fight, Derevyanchenko recovered well enough to battle Daniel Jacobs to a split-decision loss. Saturday's near comeback wasn't quite as straightforward. In the second round, a deep gash opened up over Derevyanchenko's right eye. It appeared on video replay a left hook opened up the cut, but officials ruled it was the result of an accidental headbutt.

Despite the early adversity, Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times felt the underdog did well to recover in the third round:

I give the third to Derevyanchenko, fought with purpose and was willing to absorb blows to exchange. Last stand? We'll see. #GGGDerevyanchenko

— Lance Pugmire (@pugboxing) October 6, 2019

That was the start of an excellent run from the challenger. Derevyanchenko looked faster and sharper as he forced Golovkin onto the back foot with a strong jab. He also put together some great body shots, at one point visibly staggering Golovkin, who is known for his ability to absorb punishment.

It's not often Golovkin faces a test between the ropes, but he showed he has a deep reservoir of willpower to go along with his famous strength. Ring's Douglass Fischer was impressed with the aging prizefighter's ability to interrupt Derevyanchenko's momentum:

Derevyanchenko has better footwork and mobility than I thought going in. GGG is exhibiting a fine display of economical offenses & accurate power punching, but he’s being outworked. Not necessarily out pointing tho. 5-3 GGG.

— Douglass Fischer (@dougiefischer) October 6, 2019

He paid a heavy price to do it. Golovkin had little to no head movement, allowing Derevyanchenko to go right up the middle and tag him with fluid combinations. The body punches kept coming too, as this clip from DAZN USA shows:

Como dijo @CelisDeportes , Sergiy Derevyanchenko es perita en dulce 😯#GGGDerevyanchenko pic.twitter.com/cN1lmOZo3I

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) October 6, 2019

The fight was an absolute war, with both fighters mounting comebacks and challenges within each round. Bleacher Report's Jonathan Snowden had it even through 11:

https://twitter.com/JESnowden/status/1180689225026592769

The 12th round was as exhausting and punishing as the 11 that came before it. Both fighters emptied the tank, but in the end, Golovkin did just enough to sway the judges and get the victory.

The bout certainly leaves Golovkin with plenty to think about. He said he needs more focus in his training camp if he is going to take on Alvarez, per the DAZN broadcast. It's unclear if a spectacular camp can make up for his diminishing skill set.

As for Derevyanchenko, both of his losses have been incredibly close. He absolutely deserves to be in the running for more title fights at 160 pounds. He said he would like a rematch with Golovkin, per the DAZN broadcast.

If you take Gennady Golovkin at his word, a third fight with Saul Alvarez won't happen because Canelo is refusing to take the match.

Speaking to TMZ Sports, Golovkin revealed what happened the last time his camp approached Alvarez for another fight. 

"Last time he said 'No,'" Golovkin said. "Everybody push him, he said 'No.' I can't bring him!"

GGG has made no secret of his desire for another matchup with Alvarez. He called out the Mexican superstar following a knockout win over Steve Rolls in June. 

"Everybody knows. The fans know who they want me to fight next. I'm ready for September. I'm ready for Canelo. Just bring him, just ask him. I'm ready. If you want big drama show, please tell him. I'm ready to bring back the big-drama show."

Golovkin hasn't completely shut the door on finishing the trilogy, telling Josh Peter of USA Today he thinks "it will eventually happen. ... I'm just not sure when it will happen."

The two superstars fought to a split draw in Sept. 2017. Canelo won the rematch one year later by majority decision when two judges scored it 115-113 in his favor, and the third had it as a 114-114 draw. 

While GGG waits for another bout with Alvarez, the Kazakh will return to the ring Saturday against Sergiy Derevyanchenko at Madison Square Garden. 

Canelo will take on Sergey Kovalev for the WBO light heavyweight title on Nov. 2 in Las Vegas.  

Ahead of his fight against Sergey Derevyanchenko on Saturday, = took aim at rival Canelo Alvarez.

According to Josh Peter of USA Today, GGG said Thursday that he believes a third bout with Alvarez will happen at some point: "I think it will eventually happen. I see this fight happening. I'm just not sure when it will happen."

Golovkin also accused Alvarez of ducking him: "Canelo is the one who keeps running away, who keeps running away from the fight. To be honest, all of the dirt that is connected to the team, I don't even want to touch it."

The first meeting between Golovkin and Alvarez in September 2017 was controversially ruled a split draw despite many experts believing Golovkin had won the fight. GGG retained the lineal middleweight championships. The initially scheduled rematch was then canceled when Alvarez tested positive for clenbuterol, which he blamed on contaminated meat.

They eventually fought again in September 2018, and Alvarez handed Golovkin the first loss of his career by majority decision. Once again, many pundits argued that GGG deserved to win the bout.

After that loss dropped Golovkin to 38-1-1, he bounced back with a fourth-round knockout of Steve Rolls in June. On Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York City, the Kazakhstan native will look to beat the 13-1 Derevyanchenko for the vacant IBF and IBO middleweight titles.

Alvarez owns wins over Rocky Fielding and Daniel Jacobs since the Golovkin fight, and the Mexican (52-1-2) will face Sergey Kovalev in November for the WBO light heavyweight title.

If both Golovkin and Alvarez win their next fights as expected, it will undoubtedly put additional pressure on them to fight for a third time given the controversy surrounding their first two meetings.

Gennady Golovkin (39-1-1,35 KOs)  is looking to become a world champion again Saturday night at an age when most boxers are on the verge of calling it quits or out of the fight game entirely. The 37-year-old will take on Sergiy Derevyanchenko (13-1, 10 KOs) for the vacant IBF world middleweight title at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The IBF belt is up for grabs because Saul "Canelo" Alvarez vacated the title when he decided not to face Derevyanchenko, the mandatory challenger, instead opting to move up to light heavyweight to face Sergey Kovalev. Golovkin himself held the IBF title for a couple of years, but he vacated it in 2018 for refusing to face, that's right, Derevyanchenko.

So GGG finds himself without a title and unable to set up a third fight with Alvarez. The timing is finally right for him to take on Derevyanchenko, who will look to nab the IBF title he missed out on when he lost to Daniel Jacobs in October 2018.

Any bout featuring Golovkin has the potential to end in a brutal stoppage, but the Kazakh star only has two in his past five fights. At some point, age will sap his speed, strength or both, and the countdown is on as he ticks closer to 40.

At 33, Derevyanchenko poses a threat to Golovkin as a dangerous veteran who has endured far less professional carnage than his opponent.

               

Golovkin vs Derevyanchenko Fight Info

When: Saturday, Oct. 5 at 9 p.m. ET

Where: Madison Square Garden in New York City

TV: Sky Sports Action (UK)

Live stream: DAZN (U.S.)

Odds: Golovkin -480 (bet $480 to win $100), Derevyanchenko +380 (bet $100 to win $380)

Odds are courtesy of Caesars and updated as of Thursday, Oct 3 at 7 a.m. ET.

                

Golovkin is getting on in his years, but by all accounts, he is in great shape and plenty capable of bringing his Big Drama Show to Madison Square Garden. Here he is getting some work done in New York City, as Ring's Ryan Songalia shared:

Gennadiy Golovkin and trainer Johnathon Banks on the punch mitts outside of @TheGarden. Golovkin hopes to begin a second middleweight title reign when he faces Sergiy Derevyanchenko on Saturday for the vacant IBF belt #GGGDerevyanchenko @GGGBoxing pic.twitter.com/z8GRpLZNev

— Ryan Songalia (@ryansongalia) October 1, 2019

After years of brutally and methodically working his way up the ranks to becoming a world champion and a global star, Golovkin acknowledges his battles begin long before he steps in the ring.

"My biggest opponent is not a specific person" Golovkin said, per BoxingInsider.com's Sean Crose. "My biggest opponent is my age and desire."

Golovkin's most recent bout was in June, when he knocked out Steve Rolls in the fourth round. His trademark punching power was on full display, and there's little reason to think GGG will have seen a steep decline in four months. There's talk his new trainer, Jonathon Banks, has reinvigorated him.

Then again, it's not always easy to tell whether a fighter's gifts are fading when he's facing an overmatched opponent like Rolls. Derevyanchenko is likely to demand much more from the man who has dominated the middleweight ranks for years, as this DAZN USA graphic shows:

Can GGG make it TEN straight years with a World Title this Saturday night? 🏆#GGGDerevyanchenko pic.twitter.com/4hcbvAMshS

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) September 30, 2019

Derevyanchenko hasn't faced too many notable opponents in his career. Jacobs is far and away the best of them, and The Technician gave him a good run, battling back from an early knockdown well enough to convince one judge to score the 12-rounder in his favor in a split-decision loss.

Bad Left Hook's Scott Christ feels the Ukrainian, who fights out of Brooklyn, New York, might be able to drag Golovkin into the later rounds like David Lemieux did in 2015—as long as he boxes carefully:

"Derevyanchenko isn't a Lemieux puncher, but he's far from feather-fisted, and as fundamentally sound as he is, Golovkin probably won't be able to get him to just walk on to something, either. That's not saying GGG can't catch him — Jacobs dropped Sergiy early a year ago — but one figures a lot of Derevyanchenko's plan will be to avoid getting into firefights with GGG, and to avoid making the sort of mistakes that Golovkin can turn into a knockout."

Sound, fundamental boxing might work for a few rounds, but Golovkin is capable of switching into Terminator-mode and walking through punches on his way to launching the kind of debilitating shots that have made him famous. If Derevyanchenko is to pull off this upset, he will likely have to not only crush it on the fundamentals but also show off enough power to keep GGG from stalking him throughout the ring.

While he didn't look like a world-beater in his most recent fight, a unanimous-decision win against Jack Culcay, Derevyanchenko's trainer, Andre Rozier, believes his man is in top form heading into the biggest bout of his career.

"You hear people say it often, but this has been one of the best training camps ever," Rozier said, per Crose.

Assuming Golovkin still has what it takes to pull off the victory, fans will clamor for a 2020 date with Alvarez. Golovkin fought to a draw with Canelo in their first battle in September 2017, which some believe he deserved to win, before losing a razor-thin majority decision a year later.

He deserves a third chance if he can get it, but he will likely be 38 by the time it happens, while Alvarez is still very much in his prime and likely to have full use of his myriad talents.  

Gennady Golovkin and Sergiy Derevyanchenko will reportedly square off on Oct. 5 at Madison Square Garden.

Dan Rafael of ESPN reported the news, noting the two sides agreed to terms Tuesday for a fight that will determine a vacant middleweight world title. There are plans to formally announce the fight with a press conference Thursday, presuming each side is happy with the paperwork and signs the contract Wednesday.

Those negotiations lasted for weeks, and Rafael called them "acrimonious" at times.

Rafael explained the process that led to this fight instead of one featuring Canelo Alvarez.

Daniel Jacobs defeated Derevyanchenko in October, but the former lost to Alvarez in May. That cleared the way for Derevyanchenko to face Alvarez after defeating Jack Culcay in April, although Alvarez never finalized a deal with the mandatory challenger.

As a result, he was stripped of his IBF 160-pound world title in August, meaning Derevyanchenko would face Golovkin as the next contender.

Golovkin lost to Alvarez in September 2018 after they fought to a draw in 2017. The loss ended his streak of 20 straight middleweight title defenses, which tied Bernard Hopkins' record.

He won't get that third shot at Alvarez, but the 39-1-1 (35 KOs) boxer has a chance to start a new title defense if he can capitalize on his height and reach advantages against the 13-1-0 (10 KOs) Derevyanchenko.

According to BoxRec, Golovkin checks in at 5'10½" with a 70" reach compared to 5'9" with a 67½" reach for Derevyanchenko.

Gennady Golovkin called for a third fight against rival Saul "Canelo" Alvarez after his knockout win against Steve Rolls on Saturday, saying it's the bout the fans want and that he's ready for it.

The 37-year-old knocked out his opponent in the fourth round, and after the fight, he was asked whom he would like to face next. Per ESPN's Dan Rafael, Golovkin said he wants to complete the Canelo trilogy:

"Everybody knows. The fans know who they want me to fight next. I'm ready for September. I'm ready for Canelo. Just bring him, just ask him. I'm ready. If you want big drama show, please tell him. I'm ready to bring back the big-drama show."

"I believe, because this is boxing. This is boxing business. Why not? The next fight will be amazing for us. I feel right now like the people's champ. It doesn't matter for me. I want to beat him, but [the belts don't] matter. I'm the people's champion."

He also took a shot at Canelo's promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, per sports writer Ryan Songalia:

Gennadiy Golovkin responds to @OscarDeLaHoya’s pre-condition of getting a belt before making a third fight with Canelo Alvarez, says “he talks too much” and won’t get into a Twitter battle with him #GGGRolls pic.twitter.com/LQpwS1XxTE

— Ryan Songalia (@ryansongalia) June 9, 2019

De La Hoya said the plan is to make Golovkin wait for a third fight in an interview with TMZ Sports earlier in June.

Saturday's fight was GGG's first since he suffered the first loss of his career against Canelo in September. He lost that bout by majority decision, an outcome he has disputed, per Rafael.

The judges weren't needed on Saturday:

GGG put him to SLEEP 💤

(via @DAZN_USA)pic.twitter.com/A9TjBApU56

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 9, 2019

Rolls came into the fight with a pristine 19-0 record but was not expected to challenge the Kazakh. GGG looked far from his best, showing some rust in the first three rounds, but his trademark overhand right found the target from start to finish.

Sports writer Michael Benson noticed Golovkin wasn't up to his usual standards, and he expects a third fight between him and Canelo:

💥 Gennady Golovkin back with a big fourth-round KO, but looked unusually vulnerable in the opening few rounds. Canelo trilogy seems inevitable for September regardless.

— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) June 9, 2019

The two fought to a draw in their first meeting in 2017, an outcome that was just as controversial as their second fight. One of the judges, Adalaide Byrd, was temporarily stood down after turning in a much-derided 118-110 scorecard in favour of the Mexican fighter, per ESPN.com.

Golovkin fought once before the rematch, knocking out Vanes Martirosyan, while Canelo remained inactive. He has fought twice since their second bout, picking up wins over Rocky Fielding and Daniel Jacobs.

The two are among the biggest draws in boxing today, and both sit in The Ring's pound-for-pound top 10. GGG is signed with DAZN, the streaming service that also houses Alvarez, so setting up a third fight between the two should be relatively easy should the middleweight king and De La Hoya be interested.

Gennady Golovkin (39-1-1, 35 KOs) made a triumphant return to the ring on Saturday night, nine months after his painful majority-decision loss to Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. Golovkin's brutal power was on full display, as he knocked out heavy underdog Steve Rolls (19-1, 10 KOs) in the fourth round of a 164-pound catchweight bout at Madison Square Garden in New York City. 

After three rounds of steady work on Rolls' body, Golovkin opened up in the fourth. A string of power punches ending with a crushing left hook to the chin sent Rolls tumbling to the canvas. The Canadian tried to stagger to his feet, but he fell back into the ropes for the 10-count. 

GGG put him to SLEEP 💤

(via @DAZN_USA)pic.twitter.com/A9TjBApU56

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 9, 2019

CBS Sports' Brian Campbell and NYFights.com's Michael Woods reacted to the knockout:

GGG takes the soul of Steve Rolls in R4. KO via left hand.

— Brian Campbell (@BCampbell) June 9, 2019

In the fourth, Rolls pumped a jab, and ate a right around the gloves. GGG was sneaking shots around the high guard. "Gotta work off the jab," the Rolls corner yelled. A left hook, down #ROLLS went....He didn't beat the count.

— Michael Woods (@Woodsy1069) June 9, 2019

After the bout, Golovkin said he wants to make it a trilogy with Alvarez later this year, per Ring's Mike Coppinger:

GGG says "I’m ready for September. Just bring him. If you want big drama show, tell Canelo.” #GGGRolls #CaneloGGG3

— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) June 9, 2019

Working with a new trainer in Johnathon Banks, the 37-year-old Golovkin was out to prove that after drawing with and losing to Alvarez, he can get an outcome in his favor in a third fight. He showed a few new wrinkles and combinations, though there is still plenty for Alvarez to exploit. 

Rolls, who came into the bout undefeated, was stiff for most of the fight but did flash his skill on a few occasions. He snapped Golovkin's head back with a right in the second round after landing a fluid combination.

SportingNews.com's Andreas Hale admired his willingness to go toe-to-toe with one of the hardest hitters in boxing:

Rolls is absolutely standing his ground in this fight. Unwilling to back down and firing back when GGG finishes. I like it.

— Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) June 9, 2019

Golovkin, who lives and dies by a thunderous jab that can punish opponents as it sets up other punches, showed off some variety in this bout. Rolls kept his guard high, wary of Golovkin's knockout power, so the former middleweight went to the body early and often, battering Rolls' ribs with short, arcing hooks.

The Kazakhstani fighter also showed off a bit of head movement to avoid Rolls' punches and added some circling action to his usual straight-ahead assault. 

It was different, but it wasn't always effective. Rolls managed to escape from trouble on a few occasions in the first three rounds. He acquitted himself well in a few exchanges. Eventually, though, the punishment caught up with him. 

The Ringer's Micah Peters noted Golovkin is a man of simple tastes:

https://twitter.com/micahpeters_/status/1137559474053369857

When it comes down to it, Golovkin's fights can be simple, in that they usually end in the same fashion: early, and with the other guy hitting the canvas. Rolls bravely stood in the pocket with Golovkin, but the latter's arcing power shots found their way around the guard and brought him down in stunning fashion. 

Golovkin's quick work against an overmatched opponent is a good sign the 37-year-old will be plenty entertaining for the duration of his six-fight contract with DAZN. If the trilogy fight with Alvarez comes to fruition, he will have to show that he can pack in the power while avoiding damage.

Alvarez is a master counterpuncher and appears to have an iron chin. Golovkin showed Saturday he's still dangerous, but he will need to be more than that to get a win against Alvarez.

Boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya said he's meeting with Golden Boy Promotions superstar Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in Mexico next week to discuss his next fight, but he doesn't expect the middleweight champion will immediately take on a third battle with Gennady Golovkin.

De La Hoya, the founder of Golden Boy Promotions, told TMZ Sports he understands Triple G is craving another shot at Alvarez but explained his side holds all the cards.

"We'll make him wait," the Olympic gold medalist said. "We'll see. He's the B fighter now. Canelo's the A fighter."

He was more definitive when asked what would happen if the trilogy eventually comes to fruition.

"I think Canelo will knock him out," De La Hoya told TMZ.

His comments come on the heels of Golovkin's own remarks to TMZ last week in which he explained his plans to pursue another matchup with Alvarez after his fight with Steve Rolls on Saturday night.

"Everybody wants it," GGG said.

Golovkin and Alvarez fought each of the past two Septembers.

Their first meeting in 2017 ended in a draw. The rematch last year landed Canelo a controversial victory by majority decision.

Alvarez has returned to the ring twice since the second encounter. He knocked out Rocky Fielding in December and defeated Daniel Jacobs in May to unify the middleweight titles.

Golovkin will be back in action for the first time Saturday as a massive -7,000 favorite against Rolls at Madison Square Garden in New York City, per Vegas Insider.

Triple G's comments suggested there was hope of a third straight September clash between the stars, but De La Hoya doesn't appear to believe it's going to come together that quickly.

Just one week after Andy Ruiz Jr.'s incredible upset over Anthony Joshua at Madison Square Garden, New York, Steve Rolls will be looking to pull off an upset of his own in the historic venue when he takes on Gennady Golovkin in a 164-pound catchweight bout. 

The stakes aren't quite as high this time around at MSG. Unlike Joshua, Golovkin (38-1-1, 34 KOs) isn't defending any titles, nor is his record perfect. Golovkin has Saul "Canelo" Alvarez to thank for that. After fighting to a draw in late 2017 in a world middleweight title clash, the two met in the ring again in September 2018. That time, Alvarez eked out a majority decision in a thrilling contest. 

Alvarez has fought twice since then, his star (and his bank account) continuing to rise. Golovkin, 37, has the unenviable task of trying to regroup while his prime athletic years are well behind him. He's looking for another shot at Alvarez in September, per the Los Angeles Times' Arash Markazki, creating boxing's latest great trilogy. 

Rolls (19-0, 10 KOs) is a tune-up opponent, but he can't be overlooked. He will be looking to capture the same magic as Ruiz, with his promoter Lou DiBella, even going so far as making sure he has the same locker room as the new heavyweight champ, per ESPN.com's Dan Rafael. If Golovkin somehow falters here, his six-fight contract with DAZN might end up being filler for the ascendant streaming service.

        

Golovkin vs. Rolls Fight Info

When: Saturday, Jun. 8 at 9 p.m. ET (main card)

Where: Madison Square Garden in New York City

TV: Sky Sports Action (UK)

Live Stream: DAZN (subscription required)

Odds: Golovkin -3300 (bet $3,300 to win $100), Rolls +1400 (bet $100 to win $1,400)

Odds courtesy of OddsChecker.com and updated as of Thursday, Jun. 6 at 7 a.m. ET.

           

Golovkin is at the age where a long break from the ring—nine months, in this case—can either rejuvenate him or give ample time for his natural gifts to erode. The Kazakhstani fighter's calling card has always been his punching power. He looks like any other guy at his weight, but he's made of different stuff. Whatever it is, when his punch is straight and true, it shuts down the power grid. At least it used to. 

At one point, Golovkin stopped 23 guys in a row. In his last four fights, he has just one knockout, against Vanes Martirosyan. The fighter who could pulverize anyone couldn't do it to Alvarez or Daniel Jacobs, although they are two of the toughest boxers out there and far more talented than the majority of Golovkin's victims during his stoppage streak. Golovkin's destruction of Martirosyan was his typical bloody, brutal work.

Golovkin is ready to get back in the ring after a nice break and a new team to work with, but he's not taking anything for granted.

"I had a long break, but I feel right now I'm still smart, and am coming back more strong," said Golovkin, per Rafael. "Of course, Steve Rolls, my opponent—he's an undefeated guy. This is serious business, very dangerous sport. I believe he's ready for Saturday night. This is real life, real fight."

So how dangerous is Rolls? He has an undefeated record, but he's 35 years old and has fought just 19 times as a professional (he fought for several years as an amateur, compiling an 83-14 record). None of his opponents are notable names, and he hasn't exactly torn them apart, with just 10 knockouts in his career.

What the Canadian does have on his side is hunger. For Rolls, who pays the bills as a personal trainer, per ESPN.com's Steve Kim, this is his shot at making a name for himself. He's been patiently waiting for this very moment.

"After my last fight a couple of months ago, I was saying, 'I love doing this, but I've got to make a living. When am I going to break out? When am I going to get that breakout fight that's going to get my name out there?'" Rolls said, per Kim.

If Rolls is to pull off the upset, or even last the full 12 rounds, he's going to have to box very carefully. Golovkin might have some rust to shake off and could be in the mood to bank some rounds. Rolls has a slightly longer reach than Golovkin, so he can try to stay on the outside and pick his spots.

Unfortunately, Rolls doesn't appear to have the power to deter Golovkin, who may have a chin as strong as his fists, considering the hellacious shots he walked through in his fights with Alvarez. Rolls better hope he is made of the same material. 

This fight could start off slow, but expect Golovkin to turn the screws as the fight progresses and finish off Rolls in the middle rounds. Madison Square Garden just saw one upset that blindsided the boxing world, but two in a row seems very unlikely. 

Prediction: Golovkin by TKO in 7th round