GENNADY GOLOVKIN is ‘not willing to chase’ a trilogy with Canelo Alvarez – with Chris Eubank Jr and Billy Joe Saunders viable alternatives.
Golovkin is two years removed from his first ever defeat, which came on points to arch rival Canelo.
Gennady Golovkin during his 2018 defeat to Canelo Alvarez Credit: Getty Images – Getty
It came 12 months after Alvarez walked away with a contentious draw in their first meeting.
But despite several feeling GGG was unfortunate not to have his hand raised on both occasions, the Kazakh will not focus all his efforts on another rematch.
His trainer Jonathan Banks told SunSport: “It’s not a priority.
“G just wants to fight and he wants to continue fighting for titles and please the fans. That’s really what it boils down to.
“That’s the bottom line and if anyone wants to step up he’s willing to accept, but he’s not willing to chase anybody.”
Canelo’s 2018 triumph meant he dethroned Golovkin as middleweight ruler.
But since then, the Mexican, 30, has stepped up, winning the WBO title as high as light-heavyweight against Sergey Kovalev, 37.
Alvarez now appears settled at super-middleweight, where he will challenge for Brit Callum Smith’s WBA belt on Saturday.
Golovkin pictured with his trainer Jonathan BanksCredit: @gggboxing
GGG training before his return to the ring Credit: @gggboxing
It means Golovkin, 38, would have to, for the first time, fight outside of the middleweight limit should he go after Canelo again.
But Banks is assured the celebrated puncher would have no problem packing on the pounds to super-middle if Alvarez demanded it.
He said: “I think he could fight at whatever weight he wants.
“Super-middleweight wouldn’t be something that he would run away from. Anything is possible, given the right circumstances.
“I’m not sure what Canelo is doing but I do know one thing; he’s trying to control everything around him.”
Golovkin returns to the ring on Friday night, defending the IBF belt he won in 2019 after Canelo was forced to vacate it.
And if he gets past mandatory challenger Kamil Szeremeta with no problems, it will be music to Eubank’s ears.
The 31-year-old middleweight has the WBA ‘interim’ crown, with Canelo now unlikely to drop down and defend his full title.
Chris Eubank Jr came close to fighting Golovkin in 2016 Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Billy Joe Saunders has been in talks with GGG before Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Eubank was close to fighting GGG in 2016, before talks broke down as Kell Brook instead jumped up from welterweight, losing in round five.
Two-weight champion Saunders, 30, also claims to have signed several contracts to face Golovkin, but to no avail.
The southpaw since dropped his WBO middleweight title and won the same version up in weight.
But if he was to come back down, he and Eubank would provide ‘awesome fights’ for Golovkin.
Banks explained: “To me, I like both guys, I think both are great fighters, I’ve been watching them a long time, they are both good guys to fight.
“Both of those would be awesome fights, but the bigger drama would be Eubank – because of his dad.
“You could flip a coin on which one to fight, I don’t look past Szeremeta.”
Golovkin weighing in ahead of his fight against Kamil SzeremetaCredit: EPA
Canelo Alvarez vs Callum Smith – Live stream, UK start time, TV channel and undercard for massive world title fight
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
