NEW YORK–Canelo Alvarez has no issues fleshing out his intense dislike for Gennadiy Golovkin.

As the Mexican superstar aims to defend his four 168-pound titles in a trilogy bout against his Kazakh bete noire Sept. 17 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, it has been clear that there has been no love lost between the two rivals. Alvarez, in particular, has taken a highly chagrined approach to their third meeting, as evidenced by his public comments and stare-downs during their face-offs.

In a round-table interview with reporters in Manhattan, Alvarez was asked to elaborate on his animosity toward Golovkin. Alvarez explained that his attitude stems from what he considered disparaging comments made by Golovkin in the past.

Alvarez was most likely referring to the time when he had tested positive for the performance enhancing drug clenbuterol, a banned substance, ahead of his second match with Golovkin, originally scheduled for the spring of 2018. Alvarez claimed he had unwittingly ingested the drug through tainted Mexican beef.

The typically mild-mannered Golovkin, however, never bought that story and reacted with uncharacteristic rancor at the time. Their second fight eventually took place in the fall, with Alvarez winning a close majority decision.

“Come on, I told you, it’s not meat,” Golovkin told reporters in March 2018. “Canelo’s team are using these drugs and everybody’s trying to pretend it’s not happening.

“This guy, he knows. This is not his first day in boxing. He proves he gets benefits from everyone and he can get away with it. The commentators, commission, doping commission - this is a very bad business. [It's] not sport. Check him on a lie detector and then we can find out everything.”

Alvarez made it clear he had not forgotten such verbal attacks.

“He said I was dishonest, that I was a farce, that I was a cheater” Alvarez explained. "He mentioned that my entire team was a shame for my country. So those are some of the things he mentioned.”

Alvarez also blasted Golovkin for failing to repeat those claims to his face in the most recent media rounds.

“He talks a lot of things behind you, then when you show up, in front of the cameras, [he] don’t say what [he] said before,” Alvarez said. “That’s why I don’t like him. He talk a lot of things about me in the past.

“He say ‘I don’t say anything,’ but I know, I know what he [said]. That’s why [I don’t like him].”

Despite his intense abhorrence for Golovkin,  Alvarez had no qualms considering the Kazakh as one of the top fighters he has ever faced inside the ring.

“He’s one of the best, he’s one of the best for sure,” Alvarez said.