LOS ANGELES – After fighting to a split draw in Sept. 2017, Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin were supposed to square off once again in May 2018.

However, in March 2018, Alvarez tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol. Alvarez said he tested positive due to eating contaminated meat. 

Golovkin (42-1-1, 37 KOs) and Alvarez would up rescheduling and eventually fighting in a rematch in Sept. 2018, and Alvarez scored a controversial majority decision win. 

A trilogy fight has been brewing ever since, and almost four years to the day since they last fought, the two will meet again when Alvarez (57-2-2, 39 KOs) defends his undisputed super middleweight title on Sept. 17 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on DAZN pay-per-view. 

Golovkin never bought Alvarez’s tainted beef argument, and he again alluded to Alvarez’s misfraction.

“He did something wrong. It will not be completely forgotten. You don’t come out clean after doing something wrong. It’ll stay with you,” Golovkin told BoxingScene.com and other reporters through a translator.

In 2018, prior to their rematch, Golovkin released an advertising spot through his sponsor Jordan jabbing at Alvarez’s failed test. 

“Superhuman power requires a special ingredient,” Golovkin’s then-trainer Abel Sanchez said while eating a steak as the Kazakh fighter vigorously trained. “And it’s called hard work.”

The 40-year-old Golovkin has since regained his championship pedigree following the only loss of his career, and he’s currently a unified middleweight champion. 

Golovkin will fight for the first time in his career at 168 pounds looking to get revenge against Alvarez. 

“What we have here is strictly business,” said Golovkin.

Alvarez has persisted that this trilogy is deeply personal to him. 

Golovkin sounded indifferent when asked if beating Alvarez would be the hallmark victory of his career. 

“Not at all. I feel very cool about it. Of course all victories are different. From an emotional standpoint, I’ve completely cooled down and relaxed about it. After two fights with him, it’s just another fight,” said Golovkin.

“I don’t want you to get the impression that I am still in boxing because of Alvarez. I’m still fighting. I’m still in the sport. He’s not the reason.”

Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, via email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or on www.ManoukAkopyan.com.