Billy's Boxing Blog

By William Trillo

From The United States to The United Kingdom, it was a big boxing weekend that left us with more than a few topics to discuss, both inside and outside the ring. In fact, there were so many trinkets I just don’t know where to begin. So, without further Doo Doo, here we go;

Before I could get to my media seat ringside at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles, photos on Twitter of Oscar De La Hoya posing with Terrance Crawford were making the rounds amongst my peers. Speculation and innuendo were all we had to go with, but everyone to a man knew…considering the state of the business of boxing and all the Horse Hockey that comes with it, this was gonna be good.

In the moments prior to the main event featuring Alexis Rocha vs. George Ashie, De La Hoya stated that he had spoken with Terrance Crawford. The gist of the interview was, if Rocha did well against Ashie a title shot versus Crawford would be on the table.

OK boxing fans, I will leave this up to you…did Rocha do well? Coming off that performance should he now get the Crawford title fight?

And what about the undefeated Vergil Ortiz? Golden Boy Brass can spare me the canned answer that “Vergil is already set to fight Eimantas Stanionis”. A bout like that could be scrapped in the blink of an eye, it happens all the time.

If anyone in the Golden Boy stable deserves a fight with Crawford, it’s Ortiz. Taking that one step further, if anyone in the Golden Boy stable has a sniff of a chance to defeat Crawford, it’s Ortiz. Period.

Circling back to Rocha, that KO was impressive, but the performance was not. Taking into consideration the amount of leather that hit Lex in the face, I would at best grade his night a B-. A guy the likes of Bud Crawford would make Mincemeat out of Rocha if he can’t do better than that.

On the topic of Rocha vs. Crawford, one of the most respected and knowledgeable boxing scribes on the planet said, “Look, there is no one at 147 pounds that can beat Terrance Crawford right now. Rocha might as well fight him next. Why not?”

George Ashie wasn’t even a blip on the radar screen before Saturday night. After a tough and gutsy performance against Rocha he has now made himself a known and formidable presence. Hopefully for Ashie, he will earn a few more decent paychecks for himself after his eye catching performance.

Venturing across The Pond, that Light Heavyweight title fight between Artur Beterbiev vs. Anthony Yarde was better than I expected. Yarde did well hanging in there for as long as he did and should be commended. But truth be told, Artur Beterbiev is a fully loaded freight train running downhill without any brakes. If you don’t stop him right away, he is going to get a full head of steam and punish you severely. It’s hard to argue a record of 19-0 with 19 Knockouts.

Speaking of Beterbiev vs Yarde, did you happen to see the scorecards at the time of the stoppage? Are you sitting down? The judges had Yarde ahead on two of the three scorecards. Two judges had Yarde winning with scores of 68-65 and 67-66, while one judge had it 67-66 for Beterbiev. Talk about some Home Cooking! Fighting in Wembley Stadium, Yarde, who hails from London, was on his way to an undeserved serving of Yorkshire Pudding had the fight gone the distance. But as we know, Artur has yet to let the judges come into play when he is doing his work in the ring.

On a side note to that fight, thank goodness for streaming on the internet and ESPN+. Without that I would not have been able to watch that fight live as I was just arriving at my duties in Los Angeles. Glad I was able to check it out.

That being said, I wish ESPN+ would give us the option of watching the fight without having to listen to the announcers. Excuse me for thinking out loud but, “Woooooo”, “Ooooooh” and WooooHoooo”, are neither blow by blow or commentary. It’s a screaming and somewhat irritating former fighter turned fan who just happens to have a microphone in front of his Pie Hole.

I really wish either one of the streaming networks, ESPN+ or DAZN, would consider giving fans the option to get the live feed, with all the sounds from the arena but without the droning on of the now umpteen announcers that are getting shoved into our living rooms. Trust me on this, I think the networks would be surprised to find out how many fans would pull the plug on the Gum Bumpers.

Check out www.Pound4Pound.com for all the latest boxing truth.

By William Trillo
Photo:-Chop: Bret “The Threat” Newton

No sooner than the Tank Davis vs. Ryan Garcia April fight was announced, I penned a little article with a not too subtle warning. You can read that November 18 post here:
Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia: Initial Thoughts and Concerns « Billy’s Boxing Blog

My concerns were simple. Outside of the ring both Garcia and Davis are less than Phi Beta Kappa when it comes to handling their business. First it was Garcia who scrapped a tune-up bout with the faded and soft punching Mercito Gesta. It was a move that Garcia’s own promoter Oscar De La Hoya said, “I strongly feel it’s a big mistake!”

It’s hard to say with any certainty why Garcia bypassed the Gesta fight, but we have seen Ryan wander in the past and can’t help but wonder if the same issues are rearing their ugly head again, so to speak.

Then, in a surprising but not so surpriing turn of events, Tank was arrested on yet another domestic violence charge. Davis was less than two weeks away from his title defense againt Hector Luis Garcia. Bad timing on Tank’s part, very bad timing.

So, now not only is the Davis ttitle defense scheduled for January 7th in jeopardy, but the much anticipated April grudge match between Tank Davis and Ryan Garcia appears to be on shaky legs at best.

Nice work fellas. This is exactly what I was talking about.

To be fair, both fighters have reasons, (read excucses), for their transgressions. For Garcia he claims he simply did not want to take a lesser fight, but instead he would rather save himself for the big battle fight fans have been clamoring to see. For Tank, yes he was arrested on a domestic violence charge, but he claims he did not lay hands on anyone. Let’s go with the “Innocent Until Proven Guilty” motto here.

To be honest, we have seen this act from both men before, so if we are looking at their track records…well you get the picture.

As far as the big fights in 2023 go, we have one that can’t seem to be made, (Spence vs. Crawford), another that has been postponed due to injury, (Charlo vs.Tszyu), and in what appears to be a horrible trifecta, Tank vs. Ryan looks to be falling apart at the seams.

Long gone are the days of “The Four Kings” taking turns battling it out with each other. It’s a pity fight fans are left to scratch their heads and wonder if the days of Mega-Fights are nothing more than a distant memory.

Still, like most boxing fans around the globe, I can’t help but hope that all these wrinkles get ironed out and we can have a blockbuster year in 2023.

Check out www.Pound4Pound.com for all the latest boxing truth.

By William Trillo
Photo-Chop: Bret Newton

If ever there was a fighter in 2022 that could give the post-Thanksgiving Feast “Turkey Coma” a run for its money, it is none other than Gilberto “Zzzurdo” Ramirezzz. For the better part of his career most of this guy’s fights have been as dull as the back side of a butter knife.

That said, somehow this guy sleepwalked his way into a world title while feasting on a table full of broken-down Palooka’s whose better days were far behind them. Good for him, I suppose. (Snore).

In 2021 Zzzurdo began what I like to call his “L-Tryptophan Tour”. His dispatching of a couple of Tomato cans in ‘21 culminated in what earned him The Golden Bird in 2022.

After defeating Dominic Boesel (who?) in May of ’22, the amount of press releases sent out expounding on the virtues of Zzzurdo was endless and tireless. Apparently, the sender was not privy to the effects of witnessing a Ramirezzz fight for himself.

Thankfully, Dmitri Bivol exposed Zzzurdo in November. One can only hope we are rid of the sleep-inducing pugilist once and for all.

I know this may seen a bit harsh, but seriously, have you ever seen an entire “Zzzudo” fight? Check it out and then get back to me. I am sure you will see things my way… If you can stay awake that is.

Warning, side effects of watching a Ramirezzz fight may include:

· * Blurred vision
· * Dizziness
· * Drowsiness and fatigue
· * Head twitching
· * Nausea

Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Check out www.Pound4Pound.com for all the latest boxing truth.

By William Trillo

I was pleasantly surprised when I read the breaking news that Gervonta Davis (27-0, 25 KO’s) vs. Ryan Garcia (23-0, 19 KO’s) was signed and sealed. Finally, top tier fighters were able to cut through the constant Social Media bickering and proceed with a fight the fans have been clamoring for. Likewise, it was good to see promoters and networks quit the endless posturing in order to get things done, for once. Their 12-round fight, which will be contested at a catch weight of 136 pounds, will be a Showtime Pay-Per-View main event from a yet to be determined venue, most likely in Las Vegas.

This is the kind of news boxing fans need to hear. After the long drawn out and unfruitful process that is the Terrance Crawford vs. Erroll Spence soap opera, finding out these two lightweights should be getting it on in April of 2023 in a catchweight Mega-Fight is refreshing.

Should be?

Yeah, Yeah. Before you think I’ve gone all nicey nice on you, allow me to give you my somewhat caustic opinions. May I remind you that April is some five months away. In any other sport that would just be the off season before spring training. But this is boxing… a lot can transpire in that five-month period. For instance, Tank has already stated he will be a taking tune up fight in January. I don’t have to tell you how many times a “Tune-Up” has ruined the best laid plans of mice, men and promoters. Unexpected knockouts and injuries have stopped more than a few Mega-Fights from coming to fruition. Personally, I really wish Tank would drop all this tune up fight nonsense.

Another concern is the fighters outside of the ring antics. It’s not like either one of these guys are above doing something that would either postpone or scrap the fight all together. I am hopeful someone close to the fighters will be keeping an eye on them over the next five months and step in if things start going awry, as they have before.

We need this fight to happen. No excuses. No run-ins with the law, no sudden trips to Hawaii to collect your thoughts, none of that.

Tank vs. Garcia is the kind of fight that could open the doors to a lot more Super Fights in the future. Boxing needs this one to get to the finish line.

Let’s hope these guys do what they gotta do so they are both healthy and ready to step into the ring in April.

Congratulations to all parties involved for getting this one down on paper,(Hypothetically or in theory).

Check out www.Pound4Pound.com for all the latest boxing news.

By William Trillo
Photo: Mark Robinson and Matthew Pover – Matchroom Boxing

While successfully defending his WBA Light Heavyweight Title, the undefeated Dmitry Bivol (21-1, 11 KO’s) displayed his untouchable World Class skills and exposed Zzzurdo Ramirezzz (44-1, 30 KO’s) for the “One Trick” Pony he has always been. Anyone with even a modest knowledge of the fight game could have seen this outcome long before the two stepped into the ring.

Bivol is pure artistry in the ring. With the punching accuracy of a marksman, the ability to land multiple pinpoint combinations, an impenetrable defense, and the footwork of a Ballet dancer, Bivol makes what he does in the ring look effortless. By the time his foes realize what they are up against, it’s already too late.

Case in point, Zzzurdo Ramirezzz.

Let’s be honest here, no one is ever going to suggest he ever fought anything close to “The Cream of the Crop” in boxing on his way to his heavily padded and over hyped record. Zzzurdo used a “Laundry List” full of “Has-Been’s” and “Never-Where’s” to somehow get himself a 168-pound world title.

Zzzurdo is a one punch plodder at best. Bivol made him look every bit the part.

Dazed and confused by any and everything Bivol did, Zzzurdo had no answers and resorted to diving in face first in an ill-fated attempt to land something or anything. It was a pathetic effort at best.

Speaking of being Dazed and Confused, did you see the look on the face of Zzurdo’s promoter , Oscar De La Hoya, during and after the fight?

Now mind you, this is the same De La Hoya who was spouting how Zzzurdo would beat Bivol.

That’s right, De La Hoya said before the fight, “I think that Zurdo Ramirez is a bigger fighter, a stronger fighter, he’s a southpaw, he’s hungrier,” said The Golden Boy, “Guess what? Ramirez is on his way up, Ramirez is hungry, Ramirez is a fighter who wants to taste glory. That’s going to be the difference right there.”

As it turns out none of that hogwash made a bit of difference at all. Oscar had an A+ record as a prize fighter but his knack for evaluating talent falls somewhere around a C-. Zzzurdo is not a World class fighter and never has been, anyone who thinks so is just flat out wrong.

What makes the fact that Oscar was willing to throw Zzzurdo to “The Lion” a real head scratcher is when you stop and consider the tongue lashing De La Hoya gave promoter Eddie Hearn after Bivol defeated Canelo in May. “Canelo has a promoter [Hearn] now that obviously doesn’t come from a boxing world,” said De La Hoya,” He doesn’t really know the fight game. He got Canelo beat, it was the wrong style.”

Which begs to ask, if Oscar knows so much about talent what makes him think Zzurdo had a snowballs chance in hell to defeat Bivol? Did he really believe Bivol was there for the taking? If not, then what would be the reason to set up this obvious mismatch? Certainly, all that Abu Dhabi oil rich currency didn’t cloud De La Hoya’s vision…Right? (Cough Cough).

Turning my attention back to Bivol, no one may have heard of Dmitry prior to 2022, but with his two victories over Canelo Alvarez and Zzzurdo he has jumped up a few notches on the Pound4Pound list while raising his stock greatly. With a vision of unifying all the belts at 175 pounds Bivol may very well become one of the must-see attractions in boxing in 2023.

Of course, the fight I want to see is Bivol vs. Artur Beterbiev (18-0, 18 KO’s) in an all Eastern European title showdown. Beterbiev will have to successfully defend his belt against title holder Anthony Yarde next January, and if he does, let’s get ready to rumble.

Whether or not Bivol gives Canelo a rematch before or after the Beterbiev fight, he wants to make one point perfectly clear, as for a rematch with Canelo, Bivol stated he’d discuss going to 168 to fight for Canelo’s four belts, “but remember,” stated Bivol, “I’m a light heavyweight. This is my weight.”

Check out www.Pound4Pound.com for all the latest boxing news.

By William Trillo

Did Deontay Wilder actually clip the chin of Robert Helenius? It appears to more than a few that punch was far from a KO producing blow. Whatever the case may be, Helenius did not do the boxing world any favors by laying down…errr…getting KO’d by Wilder in the very first round.

Because Halloween is only just two short weeks away, I am willing to give Caleb Plant a pass for going all Gravedigger on Anthony Dirrell after that one punch knockout. Trick or Treat.

If a tree falls in a United Kingdom Forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?

Outside of Lou DiBella can anyone really say they had any interest in the Devin Haney vs. George Kambosos rematch? Let me answer that question for you. NO!

Hey Padre fan, those Goose Meme’s are real cute, congratulations. Now y’all might wanna consider getting your Cricket photos ready ‘cuz that San Diego vs. Philly NLCS is gonna be one of the least viewed Championship Series in recent memory.

Check out www.Pound4Pound.com for all the latest boxing truth.

By William Trillo

The last time I checked in with Elvis the Soothsayer we knew Corona as a libation not an infestation. So, with a smile on my face and a skip in my step, I couldn’t wait to speak to “The King” to get his prediction on Canelo vs. GGG III. After two years it was going to be good to see my old friend.

And yes, I am aware Elvis doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to fight predictions, but when you are headed to the biggest event in Las Vegas, who else would you go to?

According to Presley, this third installment of Canelo vs. GGG is going to be a slugfest of epic proportions. If you thought the first two fights were exciting, you ain’t seen nuthin’ yet. There is so much at stake for both fighters in this one it’s suggested for those in attendance to fasten their seatbelts and buckle those chin straps.

“That’s all well and good, but how does “The King” see it”, you ask?

He breaks it down like this;

Golovkin is going to come out like gangbusters, count on it. His best bet to beat his arch nemesis is to hurt him early and often. Breaking Canelo down in the early stages of the fight is not only paramount for GGG, it’s really his only hope. With that in mind, look for a war to start almost immediately.

The chances are good Canelo will get hurt, he might even go down. But if he can survive the early artillery from Golovkin the fight will turn rapidly and Canelo will take over in the mid rounds. When that happens look for GGG to fade fast.

The reality of the situation is this, Golovkin just turned 40 years old and he is fighting at a blown up 168 pounds. That’s strike one and strike two.

For Canelo, he is coming off an unexpected and embarrassing loss to Dmitry Bivol. Throw in his genuine disdain for Gennady Gennadyevich Golovkin, and there you have strike three. As exciting as it is going to be in the opening rounds the fight is going to go the way of Canelo by round six.

Book it!

The last time I checked “Father Time” is undefeated. He will remain so on Saturday night.

According to Fortune Telling Elvis, it will be somewhere around the seventh or eighth round that the onslaught will be too much for GGG and the fight will come to a screeching halt.

Tomorrow will be too late,
It’s now or never…

Check out www.Pound4Pound.com for all the latest boxing truth.

By William Trillo

Every once in a while a fighter comes along that immediately gets your attention. Sometimes it’s the way he moves in the ring. Other times it’s because he possesses impressive KO power. In the case of Ernesto “Tito” Mercado (6-0, 6 KO’s), it’s both. This young fighter has all the tools to become a top contender.

This Thursday in Costa Mesa California Mercado will once again display his wares. We were fortunate enough to catch up with “Tito” to find out more about him and his plans for what should be a very promising career.

Pound4Pound: The first time we saw you fight was t at the Commerce Casino. Our writer is very knowledgeable about boxing, he keeps what he calls “The List”. Basically, his list is for fighters he feels are going to be future stars. On that night you knocked a guy like in 30 seconds or something crazy. Hour writer said of you immediately, “this guy’s going on my list”. We already had you kind of pegged as a budding star just off that quick performance alone. So, here we are.

Ernesto Mercado: That’s dope to hear that.

P4P: I’m going to jump into your amateur career. Tell me, I know you have a ridiculous amount of fights there, like 200 plus, tell me what your record is and a bit about your amateur career.

EM: Yeah, I had over 300 amateur fights.

P4P: Over 300. Okay!

EM: Yeah, my amateur record was about 290 and 11. And that included 22-time national champion, I was an international gold medalist and the 2020 US Olympic alternate, as well as the representative for the Olympics. Unfortunately, I was able to represent. A lot of boxing happened when I was little, really lost a lot of those fights when I was young.

P4P: You have 100% KO ratio right now. I know amateur and pro was completely different. Were you knocking people out back then, towards the end of your amateur career? What was going on then?

EM: Not really, you know, like you said, amateurs way different, a lot more fast paced. I was getting a lot of eight counts and TKOs.

P4P: Did you know or did your people know that when you transfered it over to Pro that you were gonna start dropping people at 100% clip?

EM: No, you know, that’s something that we kind of, grew into, I think maybe once I turned about 18, 19, I felt, I started feeling the power a little bit more. And, you know, we just hope for the best because there’s a lot of guys out there that couldn’t crack an egg. So, I’m definitely happy that I was blessed with that.

P4P: When it comes to boxing I am Old School, I like to see somebody with a hefty amateur background. You know, a lot of these guys nowadays, they have 10 fights, maybe they win eight, and they think they’re gonna be a world champions. It just doesn’t equate. I mean how rare is that? So, to see a guy with 300 fights, it makes a big difference once you turn yourself over into the professional ranks in my opinion.

EM: Yes, 100%. From a little kid. I was at local shows every single weekend, every single tournament, and I’m glad I was able to do all those things. And God blessed me with opportunity because now I’m able to go in the ring and I see it all, so I’m able to adapt anything.

P4P: This is going to be your fourth fight this year. That’s almost unheard of anymore. Maybe guys fight twice a year. You’ve had three knockouts this year, you’re working on number four. A lot of guys don’t even want to fight four fights in a year.

EM: This is gonna be my seventh fight in exactly a year. So, you know, we were trying to get another fight earlier on in June. But unfortunately, I think because COVID we were unable to get that fight. So, that one canceled. We’re trying to get five fights this year, but we’re aiming for another two or three more fights this year. I definitely like to stay active. I think that’s one of the biggest things for a young prospect. And I don’t see any of the fighters fighting as active as I am right now.

P4P: That’s basically fighting every other month, which again, is unheard of even, I mean, with top guys with up and comers, whatever, fighting every other month, or on a pace like that is pretty impressive. So good for you. You have fight Thursday. Tell us about that. And do you know who your opponent is yet? It looks like you’re fighting an eighth rounder, I think that’s the first time. What’s going on there?

EM: I am not still 100% sure. You know how these things go. A lot of these fighters sometimes play a little bit of games, but we’re almost closing in up on it. I am hoping to go a little bit more rounds. But if the knockout presents itself again, I’m gonna go and take it. I’m hoping to go a couple more rounds, just to throw myself out there and get a little more comfortable in there.

P4P: That’s awesome. You’re still young in your career and it’s hard to predict what direction you’re gonna go over the coming year. Do you guys have a game plan right now? Or are you just kind of feeling out, testing the waters and then see what develops from there? Or do you have something written down?

EM: I’m fighting all my fights in Southern California, building my fan base here. So that’s definitely been fun. But as far as my plans go, right now, we’re trying to bracket a lot more fights, you know, hopefully two more this year and have some type of regional belt within the next year.

P4P: It’s the best game plan in my opinion. Get a regional belt, get your face out there and next thing, you know, you’re on Fox, or ESPN. Maybe a semi main event, and boom, then it goes from there. I’m sure that’s kind of what you’re looking to do.

EM: My immediate goal right now is just to get the fights in and just wipe everybody out. The promoter stuff, that it will come. But as of now, I’m happy being free agent. And hopefully, we’re able to get some momentum and have some type of belt by the end of the year.

P4P: Cool. All right. Well, like I told you, we’ve seen you a couple of times. But it’s 30 seconds and the fights are over. So, I don’t know if I can ask you for a little more time the next time I see you, but that’ll be nice.

EM: Everybody that did buy tickets, they say can we see you in the second round. I said I’m gonna try.

P4P: Right. Yes, we want to see more of your skills Tito.

EM: Yeah, no, just it’s so hard man. Because like I said, it’s not like I’m looking for the quick knockout. But if my shot hurts you I’m gonna take you out. A lot of times guys make that mistake, sometimes letting fighters live and then they come back to take over the fight. That’s something that I’m not willing to take a chance on.

P4P: Right, there’s two kinds of fighters when they get somebody hurt. Ones that really want to take the fight a little bit longer for whatever reason, or they’re just not finishers.

EM: Exactly. There’s not a lot of finishers in the sport of boxing anymore, at least not like back in the days. I think that’s gonna be something that a lot of people are gonna want to see me again, because I am a finisher.

P4P: Absolutely, that makes you different than all the rest of the guys and somebody special that we need to see. I am glad I finally got to talk to you. I wish you the best on Thursday. And hopefully we can hook up again and go from there.

EM: Yes of course. Thank you.

Check out www.Pound4Pound.com for all the latest boxing news.

By William Trillo
Photo: Tom Hogan – Golden Boy

“You’re travelling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind; a journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination – Next stop, the Twilight Zone!”

• Rod Serling

Imagine if you will a promoter, who just happens to be an eleven-time world champion and Hall of Famer, who is so hell bent on making his second-rate fighter a world champion that he is willing to use whatever smoke and mirrors it takes to deceive the masses in order to attain his lofty goal. Now imagine the promoter’s motivation is not only money, (of which there is plenty), but is to fulfill his somewhat egotistical dreams of giving boxing fans the second coming of himself. Yes, the next Golden Boy.

That is exactly what we saw at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles Saturday night as Golden Boy’s Ryan Garcia was handed yet another stiff to add to the list of “Tomato Cans” he has gone through on his way to the fantasy world that he, his promoter and all his social media fans live in.

The evening entered the Outer Limits the moment Garcia began to make his over-the-top ring walk. Members of the media, well respected members of the media mind you, were tripping all over themselves like pre-teenage girls at a Justin Beiber concert just to get a cell phone grab of the Instagram star as he entered the ring. It was embarrassing.

Even more embarrassing was what transpired in the ring.

Let’s be real here, Javier Fortuna was a shell of the fighter we saw in the ring in 2021 versus JoJo Diaz. Fortuna’s skills have diminished greatly. Either that or the fix was in. Of course I would never suggest that…(cough cough).

And speaking of eroding skills, is it just me or have Ryan’s skills takien a turn for the worse since he left camp Canelo? Unless of course he meant his footwork to look like Frankenstein’s monster as he plodded through the ring. And excuse me because I am no expert; I know head movement is paramount but isn’t pulling your head straight back with your chin straight up while executing your jab a recipe for disaster?

And that right hand might win a schoolyard slap fight, but cmon…..

But credit to Oscar for so far pulling off this charade. With the help of Garcia’s Social Media presence accompanied with a string of broken-down Palookas that matches Joe Louis’ Bum of the Month club, it seems there are an inordinate number of fans, (not necessarily boxing fans), who are drinking the Koo-Aid and are willing to fill the seats when Garcia comes out to play.

I can’t begrudge a guy for making money, just don’t expect me to be buying or shilling any of that product he is currently selling.

It may be said with a degree of assurance that not everything that meets the eye is as it appears. Not a lesson, just a reminder for all the real boxing fans in The Twilght Zone.

Check out www.Pound4Pound.com for all the latest boxing truth.

By William Trillo

The first two fights in this pugilistic series were akin to cinematic gems. But the question remains if the threequel will live up to the hype or will this cliffhanger fall flat at the box office and become a huge disappointment. With those thoughts as a backdrop it was only fitting that the Kickoff press conference for Canelo vs GGG 3 was held in Hollywood, California.

As hot as it was on Highland Blvd. things would really begin to heat up inside The American Legion Theatre as the press conference began. Speaking to the media in attendance Canelo said of Golovkin, “He’s two different people. He pretends to be a nice guy but he’s not. He’s an a**hole. He really is. He pretends to be a nice guy for the fans but in other places, he just talks a lot of sh*t, that’s why it’s personal for me.”

To no one’s surprise a composed Golovkin said through an interpreter, “If it’s so personal for him, my question is why was he putting off the third fight for so long?” If it’s personal, you should ask him why.”

Make no mistake, this one is very personal for Canelo, and he plans on making things right by knocking GGG out and putting an end to his career. And if he does Canelo says, “That will taste very sweet.”

To GGG’s point, it has been four long years since the last fight and whatever the case may be, one has to wonder if the fight will still generate the same amount of interest it did back in the day when both men ruled boxing with an iron fist.

The reality is Golovkin just celebrated his 40th birthday and Canelo is coming off a stunning loss to Dmitry Bivol only a few short months ago. Spin it any way you want, but some of the luster has gone off the fight. Only some elbow grease and heavy polishing from Matchroom and DAZN will be able to shine it back up before Canelo & GGG step into the T-Mobile Arena ring in Las Vegas on September 17th.

With a press conference this Monday in New York and all the obligatory pre-fight hype you can rest assured the powers that be will hype this third installment with all the bells and whistles available.

Lights, Camera, Action!

Check out www.Pound4Pound.com for all the latest boxing news.